Physical functioning: The mediating effect on ADLs and vitality in elderly living in residential care facilities. “Act on ageing”: A pilot study

Monica Emma Liubicich, Filippo Candela, Daniele Magistro, Emanuela Rabaglietti, Enrique Ortega

Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
University Interfaculty School of Motor Science (SUISM), Research Centre in Motor and Sport Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/health.2012.47064                

Abstract

The present study aims at verifying whether participation in a physical activity programme has positive effects on the daily life autonomy and vitality of elderly people living in residential care facilities by the mediation of their physical well- being. Fifty-one institutionalised individuals took part in the study. The control group included 11 people (84.26, ± 7.4 years), whereas the experimental group was made up of 40 people (85 ± 6.6 years). The experimental group was involved in a physical activity programme twice a week. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire, the Activities of Daily Living Scale, and the Tinetti Test were administered to the participants. The linear regression method as well as Sobel’s formula were used for the analysis. The results show that participation in a physical activity programme has positive effects on autonomy in bathing and on the participants’ sense of vitality due to the mediation of physical functioning. These results confirm the importance of physical activity for the elderly populations living in residential care facilities.

Keywords

Physical Activity; Basic Activities of Daily Living; Older Elderly; Exercise; Mediation; Health

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Bettio, F. and Platenga, J. (2004) Comparing care regimes in Europe. Feminist Economics, 10, 85-113. doi:10.1080/1354570042000198245
[2]	Galloway, M.T. and Jokl, P. (2000) Aging Successfully: The importance of physical activity in maintaining health and function. Journal of the American Academy Orthopedic Surgeons, 8, 37-44.
[3]	Daley, M.J. and Spinks, W.L. (2000) Exercise, mobility and aging. Sports Medicine, 29, 1-12. doi:10.2165/00007256-200029010-00001
[4]	Guralnik, J.M., Ferrucci, L., Pieper, C.F., Leveille, S.G., Markides, K.S. and Ostir, G.V. (2000) Lower extremity function and subsequent disability: Consistency across studies, predictive models, and value of gait speed alone compared with the Short Physical Performance Battery. Journal of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences Medical Sciences, 55, M221-M231. doi:10.1093/gerona/55.4.M221
[5]	Lin, M.-R., Hwang, H.-F., Hu, M.-H., Wu, H.-D.I., Wang, Y.-W. and Huang, F.-C. (2004) Pscycometric comparison of the timed up and go, one leg stand, functional reach, and Tinetti balance measures in community-dwelling older people. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 52, 1343- 1348. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52366.x
[6]	Pettibon, W.H., Van Hasselt, V.B. and Hersen, M. (1996) Psychological treatment of older adults. Plenum Press Publishing Corporatio, New York.
[7]	Rydwik, E., Frandin, K. and Akne, G. (2004) Effects of physical training on physical performance in institutionalized elderly patients (70+) with multiple diagnoses. Age and Ageing, 33, 13-23. doi:10.1093/ageing/afh001
[8]	Luukinen, H., Letola, S., Jokelainen, J., Rauni V??n?nen- Sainio, R., Lotvonen, S. and Koistinen, P. (2006) Prevention of disability by exercise among frail community-living elderly subjects in an international observational study. Scandinavian Journal Health Care, 24, 199-205. doi:10.1080/02813430600958476
[9]	Tas, U., Verhagen, A.P., Bierma-Zeinstra, S.M., Hofman, A., Odding, E., Pols, H.A. and Koes, B.W. (2007) Incidence and risk factors of disability in the elderly: The Rotterdam Study. Preventive Medicine, 44, 272-278. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.11.007
[10]	McCauley, E. (1994) Physical activity and psychosocial outcomes. In Bouchard, C., Shepard, R.J. and Stephens, C. eds., Physical Activity, Fitness and Health, Human Kinetics, Champaign.
[11]	Netz, Y., Wu, M-J., Becker, B.J. and Tenenbaum, G. (2005) Physical activity and psychological well-being in advance age: A meta-analysis of intervention studies. Psychology and Ageing, 2, 272-284. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.20.2.272
[12]	Scheffer, A.C., Schuurmans, M.J., van Dijk, N., van der Hooft, T. and de Rooj, S.E. (2008) Fear of falling: Measurement strategy, prevalence, risk factors and consequences among older persons. Age and Ageing, 37, 19-24. doi:10.1093/ageing/afm169
[13]	Biderman, A., Cwikel, J., Freid, A.V. and Galinsky, D.J. (2002) Depression and falls among community dwelling elder people. A search for common risk factors. Journal of Epidemiological Community Health, 56, 631-636. doi:10.1136/jech.56.8.631
[14]	Kerse, N., Butler, M., Robinson, E. And Todd, M. (2004) Physical activity: Wearing slippers, falls and injury in residential care. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28, 180-187. doi:10.1111/j.1467-842X.2004.tb00933.x
[15]	Cesari, M., Landi, F., Torre, S., Onder, G., Lattanzio, F. and Bernabei, R. (2002) Prevalence and risk factors for falls in a older community dwelling population. Journals of Gerontology Series A Biological Sciences Medicine Sciences, 57, 722-726. doi:10.1093/gerona/57.11.M722
[16]	McAuley, H., Morris, K.S., Doerksen, S.E., Robert, R.W., Hu, L., Siobhan, M., White, S.M., Wójcicki, T.R. and Rosengren, K. (2007) Effects of change in physical activity on physical function limitations in older women: Mediating roles of function performance and self-efficacy. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 55, 1967-1973. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01469.x
[17]	Keysor, J.J. (2003) Does late-life physical activity or exercise prevent or minimize disablement? A critical review of the scientific evidence. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25, 129-136. doi:10.1016/S0749-3797(03)00176-4
[18]	Heikkinen, E. (2006) Disability and physical activity in late life research models and approaches. European Review Aging Physical Activity, 3, 3-9. doi:10.1007/s11556-006-0004-8
[19]	Lakeman, R. (1996) The ethics of bathing. Nursing New Zealand, 2, 13-15.
[20]	Kasser, V. and Ryan, R. (1999) The relation of psychological needs for autonomy and relatedness to vitality, well-being and mortality in a nursing-home. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 29, 935-954. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1999.tb00133.x
[21]	Patel, K.V., Coppin, A.K., Manini, T.M., Lauretani, F., Bandinelli, S., Ferrucci, L. and Guralnik, J.M. (2006) Mid- life physical activity and mobility in older age: The In- CHIANTI study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 31, 217-224. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.05.005
[22]	Candela, F., Liubicich, M.E., Ortega, E., Rabaglietti, E. and Ciairano, S. (2011) The benefits of physical activity on the assessment of general health status of elderly people in residential care facilities: Exploring the mediation effect of vitality and mental health. In: Columbus, F. Ed., Advances in Psychology, Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge.
[23]	Ciairano, S., Liubicich, M.E. and Rabaglietti, E. (2010) The effects of a physical activity programme on the psychological wellbeing of older people in a residential care facility: An experimental study. Ageing & Society, 30, 609-626. doi:10.1017/S0144686X09990614
[24]	Liubicich, M.E., Magistro, D., Candela, F., Rabaglietti, E. and Ciairano, S. (2012) Physical activity and mobility function in elderly people living in residential care facilities. “Act on aging”: A pilot study. Advances in Physical Education, 2, 54-60
[25]	Banchero, A., Bianchetti, A., Brizioli, E., Casanova, G., Gori, C. and Guaita, A. (2009) L’assistenza agli anziani non autosufficienti in Italia. A cura di N.N.A (Network Non Autosufficienza), Via Del Carpino.
[26]	Ciairano, S., Musella, G., Gemelli, F., Liubicich, M.E., Rabaglietti, E. and Roggero, A. (2006) Un intervento di promozione dell’attività motoria e la salute fisica e psicologica degli anziani all’interno di una residenza: Valutazione di processo e di risultato. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia dello Sport, 1, 3-11.
[27]	American College of Sports Medicine (2007) Physical activity and public health in older adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Indianapolis.
[28]	Folstein, M., Folstein, S. and McHugh, P.R. (1975) Mini- Mental State: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 89-198.
[29]	A.I.P. (Associazione Italiana di Psicologia) (1997) Ethical code for psychological research. AIP, Roma. http://www.mopi.it/docs/cd/aipcode.pdf
[30]	Ware, J.E. Jr. and Sherbourne, C.D. (1992) The MOS 36- item short form health survey (SF-36). Conceptual framework and item selection. Medical Care, 30, 473-481. doi:10.1097/00005650-199206000-00002
[31]	Katz, S., Ford, A.B., Moskowitz, R.W., Jackson, B.A. and Jaffe, M.W. (1963) Studies of illness in the aged. The index of ADL: A standardized measure of biological and psychosocial function. Journal of the American Medical Association, 185, 914-919. doi:10.1001/jama.1963.03060120024016
[32]	Tinetti, M. (1986) Performance-oriented assessment of mobility problems in elderly patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 34, 119-126.
[33]	Baron, R.M. and Kenny, D.A. (1986) The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
[34]	Holmbeck, G.N. (1997) Toward terminological, conceptual, and statistical clarity in the study of mediators and moderators: Examples from the child-clinical and pediatric psychology literatures. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 599-610. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.65.4.599
[35]	American College of Sports Medicine (2000) ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. 6th Edition, Lippincott, Williams & Wilking, Baltimore.
[36]	Lavile d’Epinay, C., Pin, S. and Spini, D. (2001) Présentation de Swilso-o, une étude longitudinale suisse sur la grand age. L’exemple de la dynamique de la santé fonctionnelle. L’Année Gérontologique, 15, 78-96.
[37]	Jessup, J.V., Horne, C., Vishen, R.K. and Wheeler, D. (2003) Effects of exercise on bone density, balance, and self efficacy in older women. Biological Research for Nursing, 4, 171-80. doi:10.1177/1099800402239628
[38]	van der Bij, A.K., Laurant, MG.H. and Wensing, M. (2002) Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for older adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 22, 120- 133. doi:10.1016/S0749-3797(01)00413-5
[39]	Sukuzi, T., Kim, H., Yoshida, H. and Ishizaki, T. (2004) Randomized controlled trial of exercise intervention for the prevention of falls in community-dwelling elderly Japanese women. Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, 22, 602-611. doi:10.1007/s00774-004-0530-2
[40]	Means, K., Rodell, D. and O’Sullivan, P. (2005) Balance, mobility and falls among community-dwelling elderly person. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 84, 238-250. doi:10.1097/01.PHM.0000151944.22116.5A
[41]	Gill, T.M., Baker, D.I., Gottschalk, M., Peduzzi, P.N., Allore, H. and Van Ness, P.H. (2004) A prehabilitation program for the prevention of functional decline: Effect on higher-level physical function. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85, 1043-1049. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2003.10.021
[42]	Hinck, S. (2004) The lived experience of oldest-old rural adults. Qualitative Health Research, 14, 779-791. doi:10.1177/1049732304265774
[43]	Easley, C. and Schaller, J. (2003) The experience of being old-old: Life after 85. Geriatric Nursing, 24, 273-277. doi:10.1016/S0197-4572(03)00246-5