Do Older Adults Engaged in a Community-Based Exercise Program Have Better Mental Health Indicators? A Static Group Comparison Study in a Brazilian Regional Area
Introduction. The evidence on the effectiveness of community-based exercise program (CBEP) on psychological distress among older adults appears unclear, especially in developing countries. Objective. To compare the mental health of older adults engaged in an 8-week CBEP with a physically inactive...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
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Fundación Universitaria María Cano
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Revista de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias de la Salud |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://riics.info/index.php/RCMC/article/view/407 |
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| Summary: | Introduction. The evidence on the effectiveness of community-based exercise program (CBEP) on psychological distress among older adults appears unclear, especially in developing countries.
Objective. To compare the mental health of older adults engaged in an 8-week CBEP with a physically inactive control group living in a Brazilian regional area.
Method. In a static group comparison design (a single post-exposure measure), older adult women engaged in a community-based exercise program [CBEP, n = 24, mean (SD), age: 67 (9) years, BMI: 27.7 (5.1) kg/m2] and a physically inactive control group [PIC, n = 30, mean (SD), age: 69 (6) years, BMI: 29.5 (3.4) kg/m2] participated of this study. The CBEP was conducted 3x/wk for 8 weeks, with Pilates activities (90 min/wk), water-aerobic exercises (90 min/wk) and Brazilian capoeira (120 min/wk). Self-report data on sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and indicators of stress, anxiety and depression (DASS-21 scale) were assessed to provide a posttest to both the experimental group and the comparison group.
Results. The Welch ANOVA showed lower levels of anxiety (Cohen’s d = 2.9), depression (Cohen’s d = 4.2) and stress (Cohen’s d = 3.5) in the CBEP group compared to the PIC group (P<0.001). Likewise, the psychological distress was statistically lower for the CBEP group (Cohen’s d = 3.9, P<0.001).
Conclusion. Compared to their physically inactive counterparts, female older adults who participate in a CBEP have the best mental health indicators.
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| ISSN: | 2665-2056 |