title: The association between physical activity and social isolation in community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social isolation is an increasing concern in older community-dwelling adults. There is growing need to determine effective interventions addressing social isolation. This study aimed to determine whether a relationship exists between physical activity (recreational and/or household-based) and social isolation. An examination was conducted for whether group- or home-based falls prevention exercise was associated with social isolation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of telephone survey data was used to investigate relationships between physical activity, health, age, gender, living arrangements, ethnicity and participation in group- or home-based falls prevention exercise on social isolation. Univariable and multivariable ordered logistic regression analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors found to be significantly associated with reduced social isolation in multivariable analysis included living with a partner/spouse, reporting better general health, higher levels of household-based physical activity (OR = 1.03, CI = 1.01-1.05) and feeling less downhearted/depressed. Being more socially isolated was associated with symptoms of depression and a diagnosis of congestive heart failure (pseudo R2= 0.104).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that household-based physical activity is related to social isolation in community-dwelling older adults. Further research is required to determine the nature of this relationship and to investigate the impact of group physical activity interventions on social isolation.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Department of Physiotherapy , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.|b Allied Health Research Unit (AHRU), Kingston Centre , Monash Health , Melbourne Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6727-305X
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.affiliation: c School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: d Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP) , Federation University , Ballarat , Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.affiliation: e Ageing, Work & Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences , The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Lindy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clemson
authors.affiliation: b Allied Health Research Unit (AHRU), Kingston Centre , Monash Health , Melbourne Australia.|f Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Southern Physiotherapy Clinical School , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology; D012934:Social Isolation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Exercise; geriatrics; household activity; recreational; social isolation