Home Confinement in Previously Active Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Physical Fitness and Physical Activity Behavior and Their Relationship With Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

AimThe aim of our study was to analyze physical activity levels, sitting time, physical fitness, and their relationship with depressive symptoms after home confinement in previously active older adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study sample comprised 68 older adults (74.24 ± 5.67 years) from a community-based exercise program conducted in Porto, Portugal. After home confinement, participants were assessed in person for lower-body strength (30-s chair stand test), cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walking test), agility/dynamic balance (8-ft up-and-go test), handgrip strength, and anthropometry. Telephone interviews were performed to evaluate depressive symptoms with the Geriatric Depression Scale – 15 items (GDS-15) and physical activity levels through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SV). Individuals were also asked to self-report changes in their physical activity levels and time spent sitting.ResultsNinety percent of older adults self-reported a decrease in overall physical activity levels, and nearly 65% increased daily sitting time during the home confinement. However, previously active older adults still presented high levels of physical fitness (scores above 50th compared with Portuguese normative values) after 11 weeks of home confinement. Overall, 52.9% of participants scored 5 or more points on GDS-15, which is suggestive of depression. Higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness were found in the non-depressed group compared with the depressed group. Finally, results from multiple regression analysis revealed that MVPA was negatively associated with depression. This model explained 16.4% of the variability seen in depression score, controlled for age, gender, and education.ConclusionEven reporting a decline in physical activity, older adults who previously participated in a formal exercise program, still presented high levels of physical fitness after 11 weeks of home confinement. However, MVPA, but not physical fitness, seems to be an associated depression score in previously active older adults. These results reinforce the importance of older adults to remain physically active, since higher levels of MVPA may have a protective effect on depressive symptoms and, therefore, mitigate the negative impact of home confinement on mental health. Future longitudinal research studies are needed to ascertain these results.

The association between physical activity and mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

“…Two study collected measures after the stay-at-home order and during this period physical activity mean score decreased minimally [ 51 ], and depressive symptoms increase as the weeks of isolation go [ 28 ]. Other studies also reported a reduction in self-reported PA [ 26 , 33 , 34 , 37 , 38 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 56 , 57 ] and increase in sedentary behaviour [ 25 , 26 , 34 ]. Individuals who reported larger decrease in MVPA pre to during COVID-19 reported relatively poorer mental health [ 33 ].…”

“…Regular PA confers some minor benefits for mental health. Carvalho et al 2021 [ 26 ] Cross-sectional, 68 older adults (mean age 74.24 ± 5.67), recruitment by community-based exercise program, Portugal. Depression (GDS-15).…”

“…Regarding sex, with exception of four studies [ 24 , 31 , 40 , 48 ] the majority included more women than men. Concerning age, most articles presented the mean age range between 20 and 30 years [ 24 , 25 , 36 , 37 , 44 , 48 – 50 , 56 , 57 ], two article presented mean age between 30 and 40 years [ 33 , 43 ]; five articles presented mean age between 40 and 50 years [ 28 , 32 , 35 , 41 , 42 ]; and seven articles presented mean age above 50 years [ 26 , 27 , 34 , 45 – 47 , 51 ]. Four articles did not present mean age [ 31 , 38 – 40 ], for one article the age ranged between 21 and 35 years [ 31 ], for another, the age ranged between 21 and 40 years [ 38 ], for another, the age ranged between 17 and 69 years [ 40 ], and in one the age ranged between 27 and 53 years [ 39 ].…”

“…Inactive people had worse well-being, highest depression and enxiety compared with moderately active and very active participants [ 24 , 51 ]. Also, inactive old adults had more depressive symptoms [ 26 ]. On the other hand, participants sufficiently active reported significantly lower depression and anxiety and higher life satisfaction.…”

“…Sedentary behaviour was observed in few studies and contradictory findings were observed. No association between sedentary time and depressive symptoms was observed [ 26 , 36 ]. However, other studies have shown that sedentary behaviour was associated with poorer mental health [ 25 ], well-being [ 32 ] and perceived stress [ 44 ].…”