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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
- Authors:
- CIAIRANO Silva, LIUBICICH Monica Emma, RABAGLIETTI Emanuela
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 30(4), May 2010, pp.609-626.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study analyses the physical and psychological benefits associated with physical exercise sessions given by 6 specially trained instructors on older people living in a northern Italian residential care home. Previous research, mostly focusing on older people living independently suggests that physical exercise (formal or e.g. gardening or housekeeping) may minimise or reverse physical frailty and spontaneously boost basic activities such as unassisted dressing and washing, while formal physical exercise programmes in nursing home residents decreased depression and anxiety levels and increased cognitive functioning. The effects of such aerobic activity interventions on the residents’ general health perceptions, perceptions that health limits moderate to heavy physical exercise, and positive and negative self-perceptions were assessed. Twenty two, mixed gender, self-sufficient, older people (10 control, 12 test - given two 45 minute sessions for 13 weeks over 5 months) of average age 80.6 years, completed the Italian version of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire, pre and post-test. The findings showed that the perception that one’s health can limit moderate to heavy physical activity decreased post intervention in the test group while it increased in the control group, positive self-perception remained stable in the test group but it was reduced in the control group and that there was no interaction between group and time with respect to general health perceptions and negative self-perception.