Physical activity and quality of life in older adults: influence of health status and self-efficacy.
BACKGROUND
Physical activity has been positively linked to quality of life (QOL) in older adults. Measures of health status and global well-being represent common methods of assessing QOL outcomes, yet little has been done to determine the nature of the relationship of these outcomes with physical activity.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the roles played by physical activity, health status, and self-efficacy in global QOL (satisfaction with life) in a sample of older Black and White women.


METHODS
Participants (N = 249, M age = 68.12 years) completed multiple indicators of physical activity, self-efficacy, health status, and QOL at baseline of a 24-month prospective trial. Structural equation modeling examined the fit of 3 models of the physical activity and QOL relationship.


RESULTS
Analyses indicated that relationships between physical activity and QOL, self-efficacy and QOL were all indirect. Specifically, physical activity influenced self-efficacy and QOL through physical and mental health status, which in turn influenced global QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support a social cognitive model of physical activity's relationship with QOL. Subsequent tests of hypothesized relationships across time are recommended.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Kinesiology, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. emcauley@uiuc.edu
Edward
E
McAuley
James F
JF
Konopack
Robert W
RW
Motl
Katherine S
KS
Morris
Shawna E
SE
Doerksen
Karl R
KR
Rosengren
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires