Psychological Health Of Older Adults Research Articles

Factors affecting advance directives completion among older adults in Korea.

Advance directives (ADs) provide an opportunity for patients to enhance the quality of their end-of-life care and prepare for a dignified death by deciding treatment plans. The purpose of this study was to explore the multiple factors that influence the advance directives completion among older adults in South Korea. This was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study of 9,920 older adults. The differences in ADs based on subjects' sociodemographic characteristics, health-related characteristics, and attitude toward death were tested using the chi-squared and t-test. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify the influencing factor of ADs. The number of chronic diseases, number of prescribed medications, depression, insomnia, suicide intention, and hearing, vision, or chewing discomfort were higher in the ADs group compared to the non-ADs group. The influencing factors of the signing of ADs included men sex, higher education level, exercise, death preparation education, lower awareness of dying-well, and experience of fracture. Information dissemination regarding ADs should be promoted and relevant authorities should consider multiple options to improve the physical and psychological health of older adults, as well as their attitude toward death to increase the ADs completion rate.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Group Music Creativity Intervention for Adults with Varying Cognitive Function

ABSTRACT Maintaining healthy cognitive functioning and delaying cognitive decline in cognitively intact and cognitively impaired adults are major research initiatives for addressing dementia disease burden. Music interventions are promising, non-pharmaceutical treatment options for preserving cognitive function and psychological health in older adults with varying levels of cognitive function. While passive, music interventions have attracted considerable attention in the abnormal cognitive aging literature, active, music interventions such as music creativity are less well-studied. Among 58 older adults with different levels of cognitive function (cognitively healthy to mild cognitive impairment), we examined the feasibility and acceptability of Project CHROMA, a Stage 1 clinical trial developed to assess the effects of a novel, music creativity curriculum on various health outcomes. Music intervention participation (93%), overall study retention (78%), and intervention satisfaction (100%) rates were comparable to other similarly designed clinical trials. Exploratory analyses using mixed-level modeling tested the efficacy of the intervention on cognitive and psychological outcomes. Compared to those in the control condition, participants in the music condition showed some improvements in cognitive functioning and socioemotional well-being. Findings suggest that a 6-week music creativity clinical trial with several multi-modal health assessments can be feasibly implemented within a sample of varying cognitive ability.

The Impact of Dance Movement Interventions on Psychological Health in Older Adults without Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lifestyle-based multimodal interventions that integrate physical, sensory, cognitive and social enrichment are suggested to promote healthy mental aging and resilience against aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This meta-analysis examined the efficacy of dance movement interventions (DMI) as an integrated mind-body activity on outcomes of psychological health in older adults. Pre-registration was carried out with PROSPERO (CRD42021265112). PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the effects of DMI (>4 weeks' duration) compared to comparators on measures of psychological health (primary outcome) and cognitive function (additional outcome) among older adults without dementia (aged ≥55). Data of 14 primary RCT (n = 983, n-DMI = 494, n-control = 489) were synthesized using a random effects meta-analysis with robust variance estimation. DMI had a small positive effect on overall psychological health (g = 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06, 0.53; p = 0.02, I2= 65.04) compared to control conditions. Small effects of DMI on positive and negative psychological domains as well as quality of life were not statistically significant. DMI had a medium positive effect on general cognitive function (g = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.89, p = 0.02, I2= 79.61) over comparators. None of the primary intervention studies evaluated measures of neuroplasticity. We found that DMI was effective in promoting mental health amongst older adults without dementia, suggesting that the multimodal enrichment tool is a potential strategy for health promotion and prevention of AD. High-quality intervention studies are needed to expand evidence on DMI-induced changes in specific psychological domains and identify underlying neurophysiological correlates.

The impact of dance‐movement interventions on psychological health in older adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

AbstractBackgroundGood psychological health is proposed as a key factor in the protection against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age‐related cognitive decline1. Multimodal motor, cognitive, sensory, and social enrichment as induced by dance‐movement interventions (DMI) could promote psychological health in the older population. This systematic review and meta‐analysis investigated the impact of DMI compared to control intervention (active/passive) on psychological health in older adults.MethodsA systematic search of three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo; screenings: April and November 2021) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of DMI (minimum 4 weeks’ duration) on health‐related psychological outcomes (primary outcome) and global cognitive functioning (secondary outcome) among non‐demented older adults (≥ 55 years of age). A random‐effects meta‐analysis with robust variance estimation was carried out. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021265112).ResultsData of 13 eligible primary RCTs (n = 943, n‐DMI = 474, n‐control = 469) were synthesized. Overall heterogeneity of results and risk of bias across RCTs were high. DMI had a small positive impact on psychological health compared to control (g = 0.31; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): [0.09, 0.53]; p = .01, I2 = 62.55). Separation of psychological health into positive and negative outcomes and particularly social and emotional aspects showed similar trends favouring DMI compared to control (see Figure 1). Analysis of secondary outcomes indicated a positive effect of DMI on global cognitive functioning (g = 0.48; 95%CI: [0.03, 0.93], p = .04, I2 = 82.44). Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested that the implementation of longer intervention durations and psychotherapeutic elements increase the psychological health benefits of DMI.ConclusionMultimodal interventions, as specifically offered by DMI, may serve as an effective tool to promote psychological health together with cognitive functioning in older adults. High‐quality future trials are needed to expand evidence on the particular aspects of psychological health and identify underlying neurophysiological correlates. We will present a protocol for a prospective RCT to assess the impact of a DMI on psychological, cognitive and brain health outcomes in the older population at increased risk of AD.References1Livingston G, et al. Lancet 2020.

The Effect of Physical Activity on Body Constitution and Psychological Health in Older Adults: Evidence From an Analysis of a Biobank Research Database.

This study aims to describe the relationship between physical activity, suboptimal health status based on traditional Chinese medicine, and psychological health in older people in Taiwan. A total of 4,497 older individuals were selected from the Taiwan Biobank Research Database. Suboptimal health status was assessed using a body constitution questionnaire to measure yang deficiency, yin deficiency, and stasis. The results showed that older adults involved in physical activity had a lower likelihood of yang/yin deficiency and stasis constitutions than physically inactive people. Participants with yang deficiency or stasis constitutions had a higher likelihood of poor psychological health, whereas those with yin deficiency had a greater likelihood of depression. People involved in physical activity had a lower likelihood of depression than physically inactive people. Compared with male older adults, females had a lower percentage of physical activity habits, poorer body constitutions, and poorer psychological health.

Impact of smart device use on objective and subjective health of older adults: findings from four provinces in China.

The digital divide has grown because of the deepening digitalization of the Chinese society and the intersection between high-end technology and the age structure. Older adults show an increasing level of weakness in digital life integration. What digital development can bring to older adults is a pressing concern. This study aims to investigate how smart device use affects older adults' health status and offers an empirical reference for improving their digital literacy and health. The data in this study were collected from an offline survey conducted from December 2021 to April 2022, which obtained 1110 valid samples of older adults This study used a multivariate ordered logit model, mediating effect model, and heterogeneity test to analyze the impact of smart device use on the health status of older adults. Smart device use has a significant positive effect on the self-rated, physical, and psychological health of older adults, and this positive effect is more pronounced among older adults living in urban areas or with a higher age. The average net effect of smart devices on each health status of older adults is 0.161 for self-rated health, 0.155 for physical health, and 0.071 for psychological health. In-depth research found that older adults' attitudes toward smart devices played a mediating role in the influence of smart device use on self-rated and psychological health respectively. The study found that smart device use had a positive effect on the health status of older adults and that the performance expectations and individualized needs of older adults exhibited an effective linkage between smart devices and health status. Smart device use could improve the overall health of older adults, especially the urban and low-age older adults. Promoting the understanding of the practicality of smart devices for older adults and the aging-oriented transformation of smart devices is an effective way to improve the health status of older adults. The findings provide theoretical support for the wide application of smart devices in older adults, and can effectively help eHealth practitioners implement accurate geriatric health support strategies.

GENERATIVITY AND OLDER ADULTS’ COVID-19 ADJUSTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract Generativity, the capacity to be productive, caring, and concerned with the well-being of the next generation, has been linked to positive mental health outcomes and posttraumatic growth (Bellizzi, 2004). Generativity may be particularly important nowadays as older adults adjust to the pandemic and its aftermath. For example, after months of social distancing, the availability of vaccines has enabled many older adults to begin resuming social activities. Considering the meaning-making function of generativity, generativity may be associated with more positive outcomes, including better mental health and views on quality of life and family relationships during this post-pandemic adjustment period. The current study used a community sample of 136 older adults (M age = 67.77, range 50-91; 69.3% females; 93% White) to explore whether generativity predicted older adults’ anxiety and depressive symptoms, and attitudes about how the pandemic affected their quality of life and family relationships. Using hierarchical linear regressions controlling for age and gender, we found that generativity was negatively linked to anxiety and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, those with greater generativity were more likely to report that their family relationships improved because of the pandemic. In contrast, generativity was not associated with positive growth in the personal domain or with perceptions that the pandemic had harmed either personal or family domains. Our findings are consistent with Erikson’s theory on the important role that generativity plays in shaping well-being and psychological health in older adults, and our findings suggest these effects may be especially pronounced during this post-pandemic adjustment period.

Associations between Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome, Physical and Psychological Health in Older Adults: a scoping review protocol

Objective: To map existing literature on motoric cognitive risk syndrome and its associations with physical and psychological variables in community-dwelling older adults. Methodology: The indexed literature published in English, Portuguese and Spanish will be systematically searched on 8 databases (PUBMED, PUBMED PMC, EMBASE, BVS, COCHRANE, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE and AGELINE). Two authors will independently evaluate titles, abstracts and full-texts according to eligibility criteria. A customized data extraction form will be used to chart the data extracted from the studies. For consideration, studies must be in English, Portuguese or Spanish, involve studies with community-dwelling older adults (55 years old and over), men and/or women (mean age 60), gerontological literature that reports the syndrome in older adults, and observational, experimental and quantitative studies, besides reviews. Results: Results will be charted in a table and accompanied by a narrative summary.

127 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: FINDINGS FROM THE IRISH LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON AGEING

Abstract Background Religious involvement has been shown to be protective against negative mental health outcomes and encourage positive coping behaviour among older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in Ireland, public health restrictions created a barrier to in person religious participation. It is important to examine the effect this may have had on psychological health in older adults. Methods Data were from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Data from Wave 4 (2016), Wave 5 (2018) and the COVID-19 SCQ (2020) were used for analysis. The final sample was made up of 3,044 community-dwelling adults living in Ireland aged 60 and older. Relationships between religious participation, psychological health and loneliness were modelled using cross-sectional and longitudinal regression analyses. Results Religious attendance was positively associated with Purpose in Life [Beta(B)=0.01, 95% CI=-0.00, 0.02, p<0.05], Life Satisfaction [B=0.01, 95% CI= 0.00, 0.02, p<0.001] and Anxiety [Incident Rate Ratio= 1.04, 95% CI=1.01-1.08, p<0.01], during COVID-19. Self-Rated Mental Health significantly decreased between Wave 5 and COVID-19 relative to Religious Attendance reported at Wave 4 [OR= 0.87, 95% CI= 0.75, 0.99, p<0.05]. Loneliness also increased between Wave 5 and COVID-19 relative to Prayer Frequency reported at Wave 4 [OR=0.06, 95% CI= 0.02, 0.10, p<0.01]. Conclusion These results suggest a complex relationship between psychological health and religious participation and the barriers to it during COVID in the older population. While it there was a protective effect carried into the lockdown, there was also a negative effect regarding some domains of religious participation. Future research should focus on measuring the relationship at later stages of the pandemic and the use of alternative forms of religious practice, such as streaming religious services.

Effect of Robot's Listening Attitude Change on Self-disclosure of the Elderly.

Self-disclosure of life experiences from the viewpoint of integrity is considered beneficial to the psychological health of older adults. It has been shown that people tend to self-disclose more to people they like. Compared to a consistent invariant reward, an improvement in the rewarding behavior of a person has been shown to have a greater positive impact on an individual’s liking for the person. Based on these previous studies, we explored the psychological impact of self-disclosure of integrated life experiences on the elderly and the effect of the change in the robot’s listening attitude on the elderly’s self-disclosure. We conducted an experiment in which 38 elderly participants were asked to self-disclose their life experiences to a robot for approximately 20 min. The participants interacted with either a robot with a consistently positive listening attitude or a robot that initially had a neutral listening attitude that changed to a positive listening attitude. The results showed that self-disclosure of integrated life experiences to the robot had a psychological impact on improving self-esteem. In addition, changes in the robot’s listening attitude were found to promote self-disclosure and enhance its impact on self-esteem.

Opinions and Experiences of National Iranian Oil Company Retirees on Psychological Wellbeing: A Grounded Theory Approach

Objective: Mental health refers to emotional balance and social adjustment, feeling comfortable, the absence of mental illness, the integration of personality, and the knowledge of self and the environment. This study aimed to investigate the opinions and experiences of Iranian Oil Company retirees about psychological wellbeing. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using the grounded theory approach. The participants in this study were 15 retired senior managers of the National Iranian Oil Company in Tehran who were selected through purposive sampling based on the theoretical saturation criterion in 2021. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using Corbin and Strauss method (1998). Results: Data analysis revealed three selective codes, 11 axial codes, and 67 open codes. The selective codes include self-coherence and the balance between life needs and satisfaction with the current situation, contextual factors promoting psychological health in older adults, and the process of achieving psychological health and wellbeing in older adults. Conclusion: The insights from present research can be used for developing and implementing therapeutic and educational models for elders and recognizing retirement concerns. In addition, understanding the opinions and experiences of the psychological wellbeing of elders helps the healthcare system and social welfare professionals to realize the retirees’ psychological needs.

Older adults’ subjective experiences of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Italy: A qualitative study

Objective To evaluate the subjective experience of the COVID-19 outbreak in healthy older adults and develop a model of the older population’s psychological adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A qualitative grounded theory approach was taken to the study design and analysis, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 19 community-active Italian older people by telephone during the first wave of COVID-19 (May 2020). Results The theory emerging from the study conceptualized the COVID-19 subjective experience in older people as an adjustment process to the disruption of habits, social contacts, and routines that prompted a meaning-making process to face this adverse experience. Three emergent categories included ‘loss, uncertainty, and distress’ as the psychological impact of the pandemic emergency, ‘making sense of COVID-19’ as a subjective sense-making process of the pandemic, and ‘living with the pandemic’ as agency and self-management within the pandemic experience. The resulting narratives encompassed themes, i.e. risk perception, representation of the self, connection with past-time memories, and compliance with safety measures. Conclusion The results have implications for designing effective messages to promote hope, social responsibility, and commitment in aging during the COVID-19 pandemic and for health workers who wish to support the psychological health of older adults.

The Development of Social Function Questionnaire for Chinese Older Adults.

ObjectivesSocial function is an important indicator for physical and psychological health of older adults. However, there is a lack of a standardized questionnaire for measuring social function of older adults. This study developed a questionnaire to assess Chinese older adults’ social function.MethodsWe used three samples (N = 2,257 aged ≥60 years) to test the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.ResultsBased on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with two samples, the final version of Social Function Questionnaire for Chinese Older Adults (SFQCOA) contained three dimensions with 12 items: social support, social adaptation, and social engagement. Criterion validity test with the third sample showed that SFQCOA was positively related to the healthy indices and negatively related to the unhealthy indices.ConclusionThe validity and reliability of the questionnaire reach the requirements of psychometric standards, suggesting it is an effective tool for measuring social function of older adults.

Psychological Health and Digital Social Participation of the Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Blekinge, Sweden-An Exploratory Study.

COVID-19 has affected the psychological health of older adults directly and indirectly through recommendations of social distancing and isolation. Using the internet or digital tools to participate in society, one might mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on psychological health. This study explores the social participation of older adults through internet use as a social platform during COVID-19 and its relationship with various psychological health aspects. In this study, we used the survey as a research method, and we collected data through telephonic interviews; and online and paper-based questionnaires. The results showed an association of digital social participation with age and feeling lack of company. Furthermore, in addition, to the increase in internet use in older adults in Sweden during COVID-19, we conclude that digital social participation is essential to maintain psychological health in older adults.

Effectiveness of horticultural therapy on physical functioning and psychological health outcomes for older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To systematically determine the effectiveness of horticultural therapy (HT) on the physical functioning and psychological health of older people. With advancing age and increased chronic diseases, older adults are vulnerable to physical deterioration and psychological problems. There is evidence that horticultural therapy (HT) has positive effect among older adults. However, less attention has been devoted to systematically evaluating the physical functioning and psychological health effects of HT in older adults. Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted based on the checklist for PRISMA. The searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database, from their inception until June 2021. Randomised controlled trials published in either English or Chinese were reviewed. The Review Manager 5.4software was used for meta-analyses. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool by two independent researchers. Ten studies involving 884 participants were included. Compared with the control group, HT can significantly improve upper body flexibility and aerobic endurance in older adults with cancer. Besides, HT was found to be more effective for promoting emotional functioning and well-being, subjective social functioning, and quality of life among the elderly. The attendance rate for HT was 66%-100%, and no negative events were found. Horticultural therapy has potentially positive effects on the physical functioning and psychological health of older adults. However, more rigorous randomised controlled trials with larger populations are required to confirm the findings. As a safe and promising nonpharmacological intervention, healthcare professionals may consider the HT intervention when caring for older adults with cancer, dementia and frailty.

Effect of Children’s Support on Depression among Older Adults Living Alone or with a Spouse: A Comparative Analysis between Urban and Rural Areas of China

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and severe population aging, older adults living alone or with a spouse in China have become a special and vulnerable group that deserve more research attention. Based on a national sample of 3886 older adults (≥60 years old) living alone or with a spouse, we used multiple linear regression models to investigate the effect of children’s support on depression among older adults living alone or with a spouse in China. A comparative analysis was conducted to examine the differences between urban and rural areas. The results indicated that financial support from children was negatively correlated with depression among older adults living alone or with a spouse, especially in rural areas. Their children’s frequency of contact also significantly alleviated depression among non-cohabiting parents in rural areas, but not for the same types of parents living in urban areas. Compared with financial support, their children’s frequency of contact contributes more to decreasing depression among older adults living alone or with a spouse. The effect of their children’s support on depression is comparable to that of demographic characteristics, which are usually deemed as important factors in the psychological health of older adults. Moreover, we found that the marginal effects of self-rated health and pain were significant and much higher than other control variables, especially in the urban model.

Association between Experience of Pet Ownership and Psychological Health among Socially Isolated and Non-Isolated Older Adults.

Simple SummaryThe COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated social isolation, particularly of older adults who are at increased risk of severe illness, while practicing physical distancing and self-quarantine. This study conducted in a metropolitan area of Japan hopes to provide stronger cross-cultural evidence of the positive impact of pet ownership on the psychological health of socially isolated owners with its large sample of older adults comparing two types of pet ownership (i.e., dog or cat). In this study, experience of dog or cat ownership and the presence or absence of social isolation were categorized into four groups to compare psychological health of each group. After adjusting for demographic and potential confounders, we found that socially isolated older adults who never owned a dog were more likely to report lower psychological health in comparison to socially isolated current or past dog owners. Our findings have practical implications that pets, particularly dogs, can play a role in increasing opportunities for engaging in physical and social activities and providing emotional support and thereby reducing a sense of social isolation and loneliness and improving psychological health among older adults.The psychological health effects of pet ownership have been widely studied, but only a few studies investigated its impact among socially isolated older adults. The present study aims to investigate the psychological health of older adults with or without the experience of pet (i.e., dog or cat) ownership who are socially isolated or not socially isolated. This study used cross-sectional data from 9856 community-dwelling older adults in a metropolitan area of Japan. Social and non-social isolation and type of pet ownership (i.e., dog or cat) were stratified to examine the psychological health. Logistic regression models indicated that, after adjusting for demographic and potential confounders, socially isolated older adults who never owned a dog were 1.22 times more likely to report lower psychological health in comparison to socially isolated current or past dog owners. No such difference was observed among cat owners. The results suggest that the experience of dog ownership may be effective to improve the psychological health among socially isolated older adult.

Potential Benefits of Physical Activity in MCI and Dementia

Physical activity improves overall health and reduces the risk of many negative health outcomes and may be effective in improving cognition, independent functioning, and psychological health in older adults. Given the evidence linking physical activity with improvements in various aspects of health and functioning, interventions exploring pathways for decreasing risk of dementia in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and improving outcomes for those with dementia are of critical importance. The present review highlights the work examining physical activity interventions in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of physical activity for individuals experiencing cognitive decline. The primary focus is on aerobic exercise as this is the main intervention in the literature. Our review supports the thesis that physical activity can promote healthy aging in terms of cognition, independent functioning, and psychological health for individuals experiencing cognitive decline. Specifically, physical activity improves cognition, especially executive functioning and memory in MCI, independent functioning in MCI and dementia, and psychological health in dementia. Given that benefits of physical activity have been observed across these domains, such interventions provide an avenue for preventing decline and/or mitigating impairment across several domains of functioning in older adults with MCI or dementia and may be recommended (and adjusted) for patients across a range of settings, including medical and mental health settings. Further implications for clinical intervention and future directions for research are discussed.

COVID-19 and Social Isolation Endangering Psychological Health of Older Adults: Implications for Telepsychiatry

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has created a public health emergency and had claimed 911,877 lives at the time of writing this manuscript (September 12, 2020). While everybody is at the risk of acquiring infection following the exposure to SARS-CoV-2, older adults are significantly more likely to experience severe illness, life-threatening complications, hospitalizations, and deaths. As the pandemic evolved, social distancing or shielding efforts as primary prevention were instituted to protect the physical health status of the vulnerable population, with no or limited consideration to the psychological health of the older population. Social isolation and loneliness are the long-standing public health concerns among older adults, which appear to be exacerbating amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the pre-existing risk of late-life psychiatric disorders among older individuals, it is critical to determine challenges posed by COVID-19 and associated social distancing protocols as it relates to the psychosocial well-being of the aging population. Such information is imperative to design targeted interventions to fulfill the unmet needs of the older population. Therefore, this review endeavors to identify the healthcare and emotional needs of the aging population during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of psychological health and social capital. Additionally, this review also identifies the barriers in the uptake of telepsychiatry and highlights the need for promoting remote counseling services among older people to promote their psychosocial well-being.

Physical and Psychological Health Outcomes of Qigong Exercise in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Physical limitations, depression and anxiety are prevalent among older adults. Mild to moderate exercise can promote physical and psychological health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Qigong, a type of Chinese traditional medicine exercise, has demonstrated beneficial effects on physical ability and mental health in adults with chronic conditions. The purpose of this review was to systematically assess the effects of Qigong exercise on physical and psychological health outcomes in older adults. A total of 1282 older adults aged 62 to 83 years with depressive symptoms, frailty or chronic medical illnesses were included in this review. The meta-analysis showed that Qigong exercise resulted in significantly improved physical ability compared with active control or usual care (standardized mean difference [SMD] 1.00 and 1.20, respectively). The pooled effects of studies with thrice weekly Qigong sessions had the greatest effect ( ) on physical ability in older adults. Lower quality studies demonstrated larger effect sizes than those of higher quality. Although Qigong exercise showed favorable effects on depression, balance and functioning, the overall effects did not reach statistical significance. No significant adverse events were reported. The findings suggest that the Qigong exercise may be an option for older adults to improve physical ability, functional ability, balance and to lessen depression and anxiety. However, the number of RCTs that enroll older adults is limited. More methodologically sound RCTs are needed to confirm the efficacy of Qigong exercise on physical and psychological health in older adults with chronic illnesses.