Depressive symptoms in older adults: the role of physical activity and social support

Background:Self-efficacy, action control, and social support are considered to influence changes in physical activity levels in older adults. This study examines the relationship among these variables and explores the putative mediating and moderating mechanisms that might account for activity changes.Methods:A longitudinal study with 54 older adults (≥ 50 years of age) was carried out in Costa Rica. In a moderated mediation analysis, action control was specified as a mediator between self-efficacy and physical activity, whereas social support was specified as a moderator between self-efficacy and action control. Baseline physical activity, age, and sex were specified as covariates.Results:Action control mediated between self-efficacy and physical activity. An interaction between social support and self-efficacy on action control pointed to a synergistic effect at the first stage of the mediating process.Conclusions:The effect of self-efficacy on physical activity was partly explained by action control, providing evidence of action control as a proximal mediator of physical activity. Moreover, the moderator role of social support was confirmed: high social support appeared to compensate for low levels of self-efficacy.

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The Role of Park Proximity and Social Support in Shaping Park Visitation, Physical Activity, and Perceived Health Among Older Adults

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.4.2.167 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 167-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 101

Author(s):

Andrew Mowen ◽

Elizabeth Orsega-Smith ◽

Laura Payne ◽

Barbara Ainsworth ◽

Geoffrey Godbey

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Social Characteristics ◽

Park Use ◽

Park Visitation

Background:Health scholars purport that park proximity and social support promotes physical activity and health. However, few studies examine the combined contributions of these constructs in shaping physical activity and health.Purpose:In this study, the contributions of environmental and social characteristics in shaping park use, physical activity, and health are examined.Methods:A survey was distributed to 1515 older adults in Cleveland, Ohio. Results: Path analysis indicated that social support was directly related to health. Perceived park walking proximity was related to physical activity and health through park use frequency. Park proximity was directly related to park use duration.Conclusions:Results suggest that environmental and social characteristics contribute to physical activity and health, but perceptions may also be a prerequisite to park use, daily physical activity, and health.

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The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support Between Physical Activity Habit Strength and Depressive Symptoms in People Seeking to Decrease Their Cardiovascular Risk: Cross-Sectional Study

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/11124 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. e11124

Author(s):

Vera Storm ◽

Dominique Alexandra Reinwand ◽

Julian Wienert ◽

Shu-Ling Tan ◽

Sonia Lippke

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Habit Strength ◽

Cross Sectional

Background Regular physical activity treatment has been advocated for the prevention and rehabilitation of patients at risk of cardiovascular diseases and depressive symptoms. How physical activity is related to depressive symptoms is widely discussed. Objective The aim of this internet-based study was to investigate the role of perceived social support in the relationship between physical activity habit strength and depressive symptoms. Methods In total, 790 participants (mean 50.9 years, SD 12.2, range 20-84 years) who were interested in reducing their cardiovascular risk were recruited in Germany and the Netherlands. Data collection was conducted via an internet-based questionnaire addressing physical activity habit strength, depressive symptoms, and perceived social support. Cross-sectional data analysis was done with SPSS version 24 using the Macro PROCESS version 2 16.3 by Hayes with bootstrapping (10,000 samples), providing 95% CIs. Results Physical activity habit strength was negatively related to depressive symptoms (r=–.13, P=.006), but this interrelation disappeared when controlling for perceived social support (beta=–.14, SE 0.09, P=.11). However, there was an indirect relationship between physical activity habit strength and depressive symptoms, which was mediated via perceived social support (beta=–.13; SE 0.04, 95% CI –0.21 to 0.06). The negative relationship between physical activity habit strength and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by perceived social support. Conclusions We suggest that physical activity treatment in people interested in reducing their cardiovascular risk should also embed social support to target depressive symptoms. Internet-based interventions and electronic health may provide a good option for doing so. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01909349; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01909349 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73Y9RfdiY)

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Can social support and physical activity buffer cognitive impairment in individuals with depressive symptoms? Results from a representative sample of young to older adults

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 239 ◽

pp. 102-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Caroline Cohrdes ◽

Julia Bretschneider

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Representative Sample

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Changes in Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions: Role of Positive and Negative Social Support

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph14010016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 16 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

SangNam Ahn ◽

Seonghoon Kim ◽

Hongmei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Multiple Chronic Conditions

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Social Network Types and Health among Older Adults in Rural China: The Mediating Role of Social Support

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16030410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 410 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Liping Ye ◽

Xinping Zhang

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural China ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Self Rated Health

This study aimed to identify social network types among older adults in rural China, to explore the relationship between social network types and the health of the older adults, and further, to examine the mediating role of social support in this relationship. A cross-sectional survey method was employed to investigate the health of adults aged 60 or older in rural areas of Hubei Province from 5 September 2018 to 15 October 2018; 405 samples were obtained. First, using k-means clustering analysis, we found five robust network types: diverse, restricted, family, friends and a specific type—family-restricted. Second, the results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that social network types were significantly associated with depressive symptoms and self-rated health in older adults. Older people with diverse friend networks were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, whereas those with restricted and family-restricted networks were significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of self-rated health. Finally, the results of multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that social support partially mediated the association of the identified social network types with depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Enriching the social network relationships of older adults and providing them with more social support should be conducive to promoting their mental and physical health.

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