Greenspace to facilitate the positive physical activity and mental health outcomes of older adults in Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam G Gavarkovs
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Current System ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

The link between physical inactivity and poor health outcomes is well established. Older adults are especially at risk for many health conditions, and are one of the most inactive populations in Canada. Increasing levels of neighbourhood greenness has shown a positive relationship with walking and exercise behaviours, which in turn affects both mental and physical health. Currently in Ontario, the provincial Planning Act outlines the process of parkland dedication that individual municipalities are responsible for carrying out. This policy brief will discuss the inadequacies of the current system in effectively creating greenspace for older adults, and will propose several recommendations to resolve these issues.

scholarly journals Changes in health behaviors, mental and physical health among older adults under severe lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther García-Esquinas ◽  
Rosario Ortolá ◽  
Iago Gine-Vázquez ◽  
José A Carnicero ◽  
Asier Mañas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Viewing Time ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to examine main changes in health behaviors, mental and physical health among older adults under severe lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19.MethodsWe used prospective data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain. Data were obtained using validated questionnaires through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning the COVID-19 lockdown. Lineal or multinomial, as appropriate, regression models with adjustment for the main confounders were used to assess changes in the outcome variables from the pre-pandemic to the confinement period, and to identify their associated factors.ResultsOn average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake, diet or weight), except for a decreased physical activity and increased sedentary time, which reversed with the end of confinement. However, chronic pain worsened, and moderate declines in mental health, that did not seem to reverse after restrictions were lifted, were observed. Several subgroups of individuals were at increased risk of developing unhealthier lifestyles or mental health decline with confinement: (i)-males (for physical activity and sedentariness), (ii)-those with greater social isolation (for diet, physical activity, mental health), (iii)-feelings of loneliness (for diet, sleep quality, mental health), (iv)-poor housing conditions (for diet, physical activity, TV viewing time), (v)-unhealthy sleep duration (for physical activity and sedentariness), and (vi-worse overall health or chronic morbidities (for physical activity, screen time, mental health). On the other hand, previously having a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and doing more physical activity protected older adults from developing unhealthier lifestyles with confinement.ConclusionsThe lockdown during the first wave of the COVID-19 in Spain, which was one of the most restrictive in Europe, only led to minor average changes in health behaviors among older adults. However, mental health was moderately affected. If another lockdown were imposed on this or future pandemics, public health programs should specially address the needs of older individuals with male sex, greater social isolation, poor housing conditions and chronic morbidities, because of their greater vulnerability to the enacted movement restrictions

scholarly journals The Impact of Low Back Pain and Physical Activity on Mental and Physical Health Outcomes in Older Adults With Arthritis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 458-458
Author(s):  
Janiece Taylor ◽  
Natalie Regier ◽  
Minhui Liu ◽  
Sarah Szanton ◽  
Richard Skolasky
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Nearly 50% of Americans aged 65 and above have been diagnosed with arthritis at any point in time, and an estimated 80% of adults experience low back pain (LBP) at some point in their lives. However, little is known about the experience of LBP in older adults with arthritis and whether or not it is related to adverse mental and physical health outcomes over and above those linked to arthritis. This study examined the relationship between LBP and four associated physical and mental health conditions (depression, insomnia, mobility limitations, and self-rated health) in older adults with arthritis. We also examined whether physical activity mediated the relationships between LBP and these four conditions. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests assessed whether there were demographic differences between persons with and without LBP. Binary logistic regressions found that participants with LBP were 30% more likely to endorse insomnia (95% confidence interval (CI) =1.1 to 1.5, p<.001), had 40% higher odds of depression (95% CI=1.1 to 1.6, p<.001), and 70% higher odds of poor self-rated health (95% CI=1.5 to 1.9, p<.001) than those without LBP. Activity mediated the relationship between LBP and the four health outcomes in unadjusted models. Findings indicate that LBP may be associated with adverse mental and physical health in older adults with arthritis, and treatment for older adults with arthritis and comorbid LBP should include interventions targeting LBP and routine assessment of mental and physical health.

scholarly journals DETERIORATING HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND CORTISOL: LONGITUDINAL EVIDENCE FROM THE MIDUS STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S255-S256
Author(s):  
Julie Ober Allen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Diurnal Cortisol ◽  
Health Deterioration ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Various mental and physical health conditions common among older adults have been linked to cortisol dysregulation (i.e., blunting of daily cortisol patterns) in predominantly cross-sectional studies. Researchers have suggested that cortisol dysregulation interferes with regulatory functions throughout the body and brain, disrupting multiple biological systems, and contributing to the development or progression of negative health outcomes over time. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the causal direction of cortisol dysregulation and poor health outcomes. This study examined whether diurnal cortisol patterns predicted subsequent health deterioration using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Midlife in the US (MIDUS). Analysis was restricted to 1,336 participants who provided salivary cortisol (4 samples/day for 4 days) and health data in MIDUS II (2004-2009) and updated health data in MIDUS III (2013-2014) (mean age=56, 45% male, 94% White). We simultaneous modeled multiple measures of diurnal cortisol patterns and their relationships to changes in mental (depressive symptomology) and physical (self-rated physical health, functional limitations, and number of new chronic health conditions) health from MIDUS II to III. All indicators of physical health deterioration were associated with cortisol, though not all measures demonstrated relationships in the expected direction. Mental health change over time was unrelated to cortisol. Older age was also associated with increased functional limitations and more new chronic conditions but improvements in mental health over time. Findings suggest that diurnal cortisol patterns contribute to physical health deterioration over time, independent of age-related decline, but not mental health changes in later life.

scholarly journals Relationship between Green and Blue Spaces with Mental and Physical Health: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Observational Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9010
Author(s):  
Mariya Geneshka ◽  
Peter Coventry ◽  
Joana Cruz ◽  
Simon Gilbody
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Longitudinal Observational Studies ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

There is growing interest in the ways natural environments influence the development and progression of long-term health conditions. Vegetation and water bodies, also known as green and blue spaces, have the potential to affect health and behaviour through the provision of aesthetic spaces for relaxation, socialisation and physical activity. While research has previously assessed how green and blue spaces affect mental and physical wellbeing, little is known about the relationship between these exposures and health outcomes over time. This systematic review summarised the published evidence from longitudinal observational studies on the relationship between exposure to green and blue space with mental and physical health in adults. Included health outcomes were common mental health conditions, severe mental health conditions and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). An online bibliographic search of six databases was completed in July 2020. After title, abstract and full-text screening, 44 eligible studies were included in the analysis. Depression, diabetes and obesity were the health conditions most frequently studied in longitudinal relationships. The majority of exposures included indicators of green space availability and urban green space accessibility. Few studies addressed the relationship between blue space and health. The narrative synthesis pointed towards mixed evidence of a protective relationship between exposure to green space and health. There was high heterogeneity in exposure measures and adjustment for confounding between studies. Future policy and research should seek a standardised approach towards measuring green and blue space exposures and employ theoretical grounds for confounder adjustment.

scholarly journals Online-Delivered Group and Personal Exercise Programs to Support Low Active Older Adults’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R Beauchamp ◽  
Ryan M Hulteen ◽  
Geralyn R Ruissen ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Ryan E Rhodes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Intervention Effects ◽  
Psychological Flourishing ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

BACKGROUND In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts in mental health science emphasized the importance of developing and evaluating approaches to support and maintain the mental health of older adults. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess whether a group-based exercise program relative to a personal exercise program (both delivered online) and waitlist control (WLC) can improve the psychological health of previously low active older adults during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The Seniors COVID-19 Pandemic and Exercise (SCOPE) trial was a 3-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial conducted between May and September 2020 in which low active older adults (aged ≥65 years) were recruited via media outlets and social media. After baseline assessments, consented participants were randomized to one of two 12-week exercise programs (delivered online by older adult instructors) or a WLC condition. A total of 241 older adults (n=187 women) provided baseline measures (via online questionnaires), were randomized (n<sub>group</sub>=80, n<sub>personal</sub>=82, n<sub>control</sub>=79), and completed measures every 2 weeks for the duration of the trial. The trial’s primary outcome was psychological flourishing. Secondary outcomes included global measures of mental and physical health, life satisfaction, and depression symptoms. RESULTS The results of latent growth modeling revealed no intervention effects for flourishing, life satisfaction, or depression symptoms (<i>P</i>&gt;.05 for all). Participants in the group condition displayed improved mental health relative to WLC participants over the first 10 weeks (effect size [ES]=0.288-0.601), and although the week 12 effect (ES=0.375) was in the same direction the difference was not statistically significant (<i>P</i>=.089). Participants in the personal condition displayed improved mental health, when compared with WLC participants, in the same medium ES range (ES=0.293-0.565) over the first 8 weeks, and while the effects were of a similar magnitude at weeks 10 (ES=0.455, <i>P</i>=.069) and 12 (ES=0.258, <i>P</i>=.353), they were not statistically significant. In addition, participants in the group condition displayed improvements in physical health when compared with the WLC (ES=0.079-0.496) across all 12 weeks of the study following baseline. No differences were observed between the personal exercise condition and WLC for physical health (slope <i>P</i>=.271). CONCLUSIONS There were no intervention effects for the trial’s primary outcome (ie, psychological flourishing). It is possible that the high levels of psychological flourishing at baseline may have limited the extent to which those indicators could continue to improve further through intervention (ie, potential ceiling effects). However, the intervention effects for mental and physical health point to the potential capacity of low-cost and scalable at-home programs to support the mental and physical health of previously inactive adults in the COVID-19 pandemic. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04412343; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04412343

scholarly journals Motivation to Improve Mental Wellbeing via Community Physical Activity Initiatives and the Associated Impacts—A Cross-Sectional Survey of UK parkrun Participants

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13072
Author(s):  
Allison Dunne ◽  
Steve Haake ◽  
Helen Quirk ◽  
Alice Bullas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
The Impact

Participation in regular physical activity is a well-established strategy to support good mental wellbeing in adults with, and without, mental health conditions. The physical activity initiative parkrun is a free, weekly, timed, running and walking event which is attended by people from the local community of all abilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mental wellbeing of UK parkrun participants along with their motives for taking part and the impact of participation. Mental health conditions were self-reported in 2.5% of 60,000 respondents to an online survey of parkrunners, with the most prevalent being depression and anxiety. Those with mental health conditions were more motivated than those without to first participate in parkrun to manage their health conditions and improve their mental health. Those with mental health conditions were equally motivated to improve their physical health when compared to those without, and reported similar levels of improvement. Mental wellbeing scores for those with mental health conditions were close to the normal range, suggesting that engagement in parkrun may have had a role in limiting the effect of their illness. Community initiatives could replicate parkrun’s model, and use the potential for both mental and physical health improvement, as well as health condition management, as a motivation for participation.

scholarly journals “This Too shall Pass”: Age-Based Perceptions of Changes in Routine, Coping and Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mamta Saxena ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes

The spread of COVID-19 mandated several restrictions, mediated changes in routines, and impacted coping abilities and mental health outcomes. In terms of physical health outcomes, undoubtedly, adults 50 years and older were more severely affected by a higher death rate, medical complications and hospitalization. Nevertheless, how do older adults respond to the uncertainty and scare for life compared to other age groups within the context of COVID-19 remains partially unexplored.

scholarly journals Relationships Between Changes in Self-Reported Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours and Health During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in France and Switzerland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Cheval ◽  
Hamsini Sivaramakrishnan ◽  
Silvio Maltagliati ◽  
Layan Fessler ◽  
Cyril Forestier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Sedentary Behaviours ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have detrimental effects on physical and mental health, but physical activity can help people to cope with stress, thereby mitigating its potential negative health consequences. In our study, we investigated whether changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours are associated with changes in mental and physical health during the COVID-19 lockdown.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults: Changes in Health Access, Health, Socialization and Adaptive Coping Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 731-731
Author(s):  
Judith Scott ◽  
Sara Qualls ◽  
Stacy Yun
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Service Access ◽  
Adaptive Coping ◽  
Health Service Access ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Indirect effects of stay-at-home guidelines may negatively affect mental health by reducing health self-care behaviors and engagement in social participation. This study reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-dwelling older adults’ perceived physical and mental health and everyday health behaviors. 126 older adults participated in a county-wide telephone survey during June-July of 2020, asking about changes in mental and physical health, and adaptations in health behaviors. We investigated the effects of three negative everyday health behavior changes during the pandemic (changes in health services access, perceived changes in health, and increased social isolation) as well as two positive everyday health behaviors (adherence to stay-at-home guidelines to reduce risk, and adaptive coping activities) on mental health and COVID-related distress. Examples of active coping strategies were stockpiling resources, spiritual practices, or outreach to others. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and multiple regressions characterized the impact of COVID-19 on perceived mental health. Descriptive data included changes in health service access, changes in mental and physical health, reduced social engagement, increased adherence to guidelines, and increased adaptive coping activities. Significant predictors of mental health impact of the pandemic were changes in health service access (β = .18, p &lt; .05), health changes (β = .25, p &lt; .01), and adaptive coping activities (β = .21, p &lt; .05). Findings suggest COVID-19 distress may be alleviated with improved health care access and increased social contact. Mental health challenges may also benefit from increased engagement in adaptive coping activities.

scholarly journals Childhood Physical Abuse Casts a Very Long Shadow: Physical and Mental Illness Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 313-313
Author(s):  
Esme Fuller-Thomson ◽  
Anna S Buhrmann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Childhood Physical Abuse ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract A burgeoning literature indicates adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with chronic illness. Most research, to date, has not focused on health outcomes among older adults. The objectives of the current study were to identify the prevalence and adjusted odds of two mental health and six physical health conditions among survivors of childhood physical abuse (CPA) who were aged 60 and older (n=409) in comparison to their peers who had not been physically abused (n=4,659). Data were drawn from a representative sample of older British Columbians in the Canadian Community Health Survey. Logistic regression analyses took into account sex, race, age, immigration status, marital status, education, income, smoking, obesity, binge drinking and number of other ACEs. For 3 health outcomes, CPA survivors had adjusted odds ratio more than twice that of their peers (Anxiety OR=2.22; 95% CI=1.46, 3.38; Depression OR=2.17; 95% CI=1.57, 3.01; COPD OR=2.03; 95% CI=1.40, 2.94). For CPA survivors, the adjusted odds ratios were more than 50% higher for cancer (OR=1.71; 95% CI=1.31, 2.24), migraine (OR=1.67; 95% CI=1.15, 2.45) and debilitating chronic pain (OR=1.58; 95% CI=1.22, 2.03), and 33% higher for arthritis (OR=1.33; 95% CI=1.05, 1.69). CPA was not significantly associated with either heart disease or diabetes (p&gt;.05). The association between CPA and two mental health and four physical health outcomes remained significant, even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors and other ACEs. Further research is needed to investigate potential pathways through which childhood physical abuse is linked to a wide range of chronic later-life health problems.

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