Physical Impairments Disrupt the Association Between Physical Activity and Loneliness: A Longitudinal Study

J Aging Phys Act. 2019 Dec 1;27(4):787-796. doi: 10.1123/japa.2018-0325.

Abstract

This study explores the association between physical activity (PA), loneliness, and the presence of physical chronic impairments among single older adults. A longitudinal study (N = 575; mean age 76 ± 8 years) was conducted. The association between self-reported weekly minutes of moderate to vigorous PA, loneliness, and presence of physical impairments was assessed with multilevel analyses at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Improvements in moderate to vigorous PA were associated with decreases in loneliness (B = -0.09, SE = 0.04, p = .020); this association became nonsignificant when including the presence of physical impairments in the analyses (p = .824), which in itself was positively associated with loneliness (B = 0.51, SE = 0.10, p < .001). Findings indicate that physical impairments have a larger influence on loneliness than the level of PA. Interventions targeting PA and loneliness should tailor specifically to physical impairments.

Keywords: chronic disease; mobility limitations; older adults.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging* / physiology
  • Aging* / psychology
  • Chronic Disease / epidemiology*
  • Exercise* / physiology
  • Exercise* / psychology
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Frail Elderly / psychology*
  • Functional Status
  • Humans
  • Loneliness / psychology*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mobility Limitation
  • Sedentary Behavior