effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study

Objective Independent living ability is crucial for the elderly; however, its assessment performed in China employs various scales and lacks risk factors, especially behavioural and social-psychological factors, which could be improved through health education. This study aimed to assess the indepen...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bowen Wang, Yijiao Wu, Tianjiao Zhang, Jinsong Han, Lianzheng Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-10-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e023543.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846123650571304960
author Bowen Wang
Yijiao Wu
Tianjiao Zhang
Jinsong Han
Lianzheng Yu
author_facet Bowen Wang
Yijiao Wu
Tianjiao Zhang
Jinsong Han
Lianzheng Yu
author_sort Bowen Wang
collection DOAJ
description Objective Independent living ability is crucial for the elderly; however, its assessment performed in China employs various scales and lacks risk factors, especially behavioural and social-psychological factors, which could be improved through health education. This study aimed to assess the independent living ability of community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of China and to identify the association with behavioral and social-psychological factors.Design A population-based study using random cluster sampling method was performed in two core cities in Liaoning Province during March–November 2012.Study population 3686 individuals who were >=65 years old, had no dementia and cognitive impairment, had lived in the sampled communities for >=5 years and could take part in the study were enrolled.Main outcome measures Interviews were conducted to collect information of independent living ability, indicated by the instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), behavioural factors, social-psychological factors and confounders (demographic characteristics and health status). The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to screen for cognitive impairment.Results The independence rate was 46.3% in men and 41.1% in women. Structural equation modelling analysis showed that physical activity, drawn from taking a walk and doing exercise, had the strongest association with the IADL in both men (−0.34, SE 0.10) and women (−0.33, SE 0.11). Falling in the last year and worrying about falling were also significantly associated with IADL. The effects of regular drinking, feeling lonely and participating in entertainment were significant in men.Conclusion The independent living ability of the elderly in urban areas in Liaoning Province in China was at a low level. Physical activity was one of the important roles in both men and women; whereas the role of social-psychological factors only existed in men. Gender-specific healthcare and education to avoid sedentary life should be advocated for the elderly to maintain/improve their independent living ability.
format Article
id doaj-art-b67ca2de1a7646b2a78b41cd904d7da2
institution Kabale University
issn 2044-6055
language English
publishDate 2019-10-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series BMJ Open
spelling doaj-art-b67ca2de1a7646b2a78b41cd904d7da22024-12-14T01:30:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-10-0191010.1136/bmjopen-2018-023543effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based studyBowen Wang0Yijiao Wu1Tianjiao Zhang2Jinsong Han3Lianzheng Yu4Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China1 School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China2 Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaResearch Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China3 Department of Noncommunicable Chronic Disease Prevention, Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, ChinaObjective Independent living ability is crucial for the elderly; however, its assessment performed in China employs various scales and lacks risk factors, especially behavioural and social-psychological factors, which could be improved through health education. This study aimed to assess the independent living ability of community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of China and to identify the association with behavioral and social-psychological factors.Design A population-based study using random cluster sampling method was performed in two core cities in Liaoning Province during March–November 2012.Study population 3686 individuals who were >=65 years old, had no dementia and cognitive impairment, had lived in the sampled communities for >=5 years and could take part in the study were enrolled.Main outcome measures Interviews were conducted to collect information of independent living ability, indicated by the instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), behavioural factors, social-psychological factors and confounders (demographic characteristics and health status). The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to screen for cognitive impairment.Results The independence rate was 46.3% in men and 41.1% in women. Structural equation modelling analysis showed that physical activity, drawn from taking a walk and doing exercise, had the strongest association with the IADL in both men (−0.34, SE 0.10) and women (−0.33, SE 0.11). Falling in the last year and worrying about falling were also significantly associated with IADL. The effects of regular drinking, feeling lonely and participating in entertainment were significant in men.Conclusion The independent living ability of the elderly in urban areas in Liaoning Province in China was at a low level. Physical activity was one of the important roles in both men and women; whereas the role of social-psychological factors only existed in men. Gender-specific healthcare and education to avoid sedentary life should be advocated for the elderly to maintain/improve their independent living ability.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e023543.full
spellingShingle Bowen Wang
Yijiao Wu
Tianjiao Zhang
Jinsong Han
Lianzheng Yu
effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study
BMJ Open
title effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study
title_full effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study
title_fullStr effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study
title_full_unstemmed effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study
title_short effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community-dwelling elderly in urban areas of Liaoning Province in China: a population-based study
title_sort effect of physical activity on independent living ability among community dwelling elderly in urban areas of liaoning province in china a population based study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e023543.full
work_keys_str_mv AT bowenwang effectofphysicalactivityonindependentlivingabilityamongcommunitydwellingelderlyinurbanareasofliaoningprovinceinchinaapopulationbasedstudy
AT yijiaowu effectofphysicalactivityonindependentlivingabilityamongcommunitydwellingelderlyinurbanareasofliaoningprovinceinchinaapopulationbasedstudy
AT tianjiaozhang effectofphysicalactivityonindependentlivingabilityamongcommunitydwellingelderlyinurbanareasofliaoningprovinceinchinaapopulationbasedstudy
AT jinsonghan effectofphysicalactivityonindependentlivingabilityamongcommunitydwellingelderlyinurbanareasofliaoningprovinceinchinaapopulationbasedstudy
AT lianzhengyu effectofphysicalactivityonindependentlivingabilityamongcommunitydwellingelderlyinurbanareasofliaoningprovinceinchinaapopulationbasedstudy