THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIVIDUALS AGED 50 YEARS AND OLDER DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of leisure-time physical activity of women and men aged 50 years and older during the pandemic COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of these individuals and to examine the relationship between these two variables. A total of 84 individuals aged 50 years and older, who were selected through the convenience sampling method, participated in the study. The mean age of the female and male participants in this study was 64.07 and 64.45 years, respectively. The Personal Information Form, Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the COV19-Impact on Quality of Life Scale were used for data collection in the study. The results of the study showed that there was a difference between the level of leisure-time physical activity of the female and male participants, with the level of physical activity being higher in the male participants than the female participants. There was no significant difference between the effects of COVID-19 on the quality of life of the male and female participants. The negative impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of the participants was higher than the average. Examining the relationship between the level of physical activity of the female and male participants and the impact of COVID-19 on their quality of life, it was found that the negative impact of COVID-19 on quality of life of both female and male participants decreased as the level of leisure-time physical activity increased. Thus, the results of this study indicate that COVID-19 has a negative impact on physical activity, especially in females, and on the quality of life in both females and males aged 50 years and older.