title: The role of physical activity in the relationship between self-perceptions of ageing and self-rated health in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Positive self-perceptions of ageing are associated with better health; however, little is known about the potentially underlying mechanisms. The present longitudinal study examines whether the relationship between self-perceptions of ageing and self-rated health is mediated by physical activity in older adults with multiple chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 309 German community-dwelling older adults aged 65-85 years with two or more chronic conditions was assessed at three measurement occasions over 2.5 years. Participants provided information on self-perceptions of ageing, physical activity, self-rated health, number of chronic conditions and demographics (T1). Physical activity was reassessed six months later (T2) and self-rated health after 2.5 years (T3). Data were analysed using multiple regression and path analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-rated health and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More positive self-perceptions of ageing were related to better self-rated health over a 2.5-year period controlling for confounding variables. Physical activity six months after T1 partially mediated this relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having more positive self-perceptions of ageing is associated with higher levels of physical activity, which in turn predict better self-rated health over time. This supports the hypothesis of a behavioural pathway in the self-perceptions of ageing--health link.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychogerontology , Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , Nuremberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Ann-Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: Julia K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schüz
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wurm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity
keywords: health behaviour; old age; physical activity; self-perceptions of ageing; self-rated health