Physical activity, ageing, and psychological well-being: an overview of the research.
Research has shown that physical activity leads to greater psychological well-being for many young and middle-aged individuals. This paper reviews studies to determine whether there is also evidence for an association between physical activity and psychological well-being across the life span, or in the elderly. Several methodological problems related to exercise, ageing, and psychological well-being are explored. Although an association between exercise and mental well-being in the elderly is noted, there is little experimental evidence to support a conclusion that physical activity is causally related to enhanced psychological well-being in the elderly. Methodological problems, a paucity of well-controlled studies, and equivocal findings regarding the topic make it premature to conclude that physical activity leads to enhanced mental health in elderly persons.
Brown
D R
DR
Exercise Physiology and Nutrition Laboratory, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design