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The effects of a physical activity programme on the psychological wellbeing of older people in a residential care facility: an experimental study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2010

SILVIA CIAIRANO ,
MONICA EMMA LIUBICICH  and
EMANUELA RABAGLIETTI
SILVIA CIAIRANO*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Motor Science Research Center, University School of Motor and Sport Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
MONICA EMMA LIUBICICH
Affiliation:
Motor Science Research Center, University School of Motor and Sport Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
EMANUELA RABAGLIETTI
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
*
Address for correspondence: Silvia Ciairano, Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Via Verdi 10, Torino10124, Italy E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

This experimental study aimed to analyse the effects of an aerobic activity intervention delivered by specially trained instructors to a sample of Italian older people living in a residential care facility. We assessed intervention effects on general health perception, perception that one's health represents a limitation for moderate and heavy physical activity, and positive and negative self-perception. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was administered at pre-test and post-test to a sample of 22 older people (ten in the control group and 12 in the intervention group) of both genders with an average age of 80.6 years. The findings showed that: (a) the perception that one's health can limit moderate and heavy physical activity decreased significantly in the older people belonging to the intervention group between pre- and post-test, while it increased in the control group; (b) positive self-perception was found to be stable in the intervention group, while it decreased in the control group; and (c) there was no interaction between group and time with respect to both general health perception and negative self-perception. The exercise programme seemed to have a particularly positive effect on older people's beliefs about their ability to master successfully the activities of daily living such as walking and moving objects.

Keywords

physical activityolder peoplehealth and self-perceptionresidential caredaily functioning
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , May 2010 , pp. 609 - 626
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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