Research Article
Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Advanced Age: LiLACS NZ
Mace C1,2,*, Kerse N2, Maddison R3, Kepa M2, Dyall L3, Merritt-McDonald M2, Jatrana S4,5,6, Wham C7 and Pillai A4
1Central Washington University, Physical Activity, School and Public Health, USA
2Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
3National Institute for Health Innovation, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
4The School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
5Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
6Alfred Deakin Research Institute, Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria-3220, Australia
7New Zealand Institute of Food, Nutrition & Human Health, Massey University, Auckland
- *Corresponding Author:
- Casey Mace
Professor, Central Washington University;
Physical Education;
School and Public Health, USA;
Tel: 1-484-365-7385;
E-mail: macec@cwu.edu
Received date: August 12, 2015; Accepted date: September 11, 2015; Published date: September 23, 2015
Citation: Mace C, Kerse N, Maddison R, Kepa M, Dyall L, et al. (2010) Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Advanced Age: LiLACS NZ. J Community Med Health Educ 5:369. doi:10.4172/2161-0711.1000369
Copyright: © 2015 Mace C, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Background: Increased physical activity is associated with positive physical and mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in advanced age people by gender and ethnicity in New Zealand.
Methods: We used cross sectional data from Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand Te Puawaitanga o Nga Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu (LiLACS NZ) (n=665, aged 83.66 ± 2.0) with a comprehensive set of demographic, physical and mental health indicators. Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), while the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to measure depressive symptoms. Both bivariate and multivariable general linear regression models were used to examine the influence of demographic and health indicators in the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms. Analyses were conducted by gender and ethnicity.
Results: Higher levels of physical activity were associated with fewer depressive symptoms in non-Maori men (Beta=-0.001, p<0.01) and women (Beta=-0.006, p<0.01); however no significant associations were observed between these variables for Maori men or women.
Conclusion: Physical activity appears to be related to depressive symptoms in some people in advanced age; however differences exist by ethnicity and sex. Factors related to depression in older Maori men and women and in non-Maori women need further investigation.
