Promoting physical activity in the management of depression. The perspective of older people

Authors:
WRIGHT Alan, CATTAN Mima
Journal article citation:
Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 6(1), April 2009, pp.53-67.
Publisher:
South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust and University of Huddersfield

While exercise has been widely proposed in the management of depression in older people, the subjective experiences of individuals participating in this intervention have been neglected. Similarly, little is known about the manner in which unsupervised physical activity is adopted by older people as they recover from an episode of depression. This qualitative study sought the views of 11 older people who had recently been admitted to hospital with depression and attended regular in-patient exercise groups. It was found that participants valued opportunities to exercise when in hospital and reported a range of benefits. Following discharge unsupervised physical activity played a crucial part in the recovery process and three typologies were defined which categorised participants’ motivation to be physically active. It was concluded that opportunities for older people to join exercise groups when hospitalised with depression are likely to be valued and that individual factors should be acknowledged when promoting post discharge physical activity.

Subject terms:
older people, physical exercise, hospital discharge, user views, depression;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
England
Link:
Journal home page

Key to icons

  • Free resource Free resource
  • Journal article Journal article
  • Book Book
  • Digital media Digital media
  • Journal Journal

Give us your feedback

Social Care Online continues to be developed in response to user feedback.

Contact us with your comments and for any problems using the website.

Sign up/login for more

Register/login to access resource links, advanced search and email alerts