Abstract
This study explores the association between physical activity (PA), loneliness, and the presence of physical chronic impairments among single older adults. A longitudinal study (N= 575; mean age 76 +/- 8 years) was conducted. The association between self-reported weekly minutes of moderate to vigorous PA, loneliness, and presence of physical impairments was assessed with multilevel analyses at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Improvements in moderate to vigorous PA were associated with decreases in loneliness (B = -0.09, SE= 0.04. p= .020); this association became nonsignificant when including the presence of physical impairments in the analyses (p = .824), which in itself was positively associated with loneliness (B = 0.51, SE = 0.10, p <.001). Findings indicate that physical impairments have a larger influence on loneliness than the level of PA. Interventions targeting PA and loneliness should tailor specifically to physical impairments.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 787-796 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Aging and Physical Activity |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- chronic disease
- mobility limitations
- older adults
- SOCIAL-ISOLATION
- OLDER PERSONS
- HEALTH
- ADULTS
- INTERVENTIONS
- CONSEQUENCES
- GUIDELINES
- SUPPORT
- OBESITY
- PEOPLE