Fisieke aktiwiteit en lewenstyl se verband met gesondheid en lewensgeluk by bejaardes (ouer as 65 jaar)

Abstract

The relation between physical activity and lifestyle, with health and happiness among the elderly ( older than 65 years). A major challenge facing society is how to maintain health and quality of life among the ageing. Maximum life expectancy has not changed substantially, but average life expectancy has increased greatly in the past century. Exercise and physical fitness have been found to provide a number of benefits for older adults. By current standards, a person is not considered truly healthy unless he or she practises a lifestyle that reduces the risks of the major chronic diseases. Happiness has been found to have some positive influences on health, and it is believed that participation in physical activity can increase levels of happiness. Research in this area has, to date been limited and the relation between physical activity, lifestyle, health and happiness among the elderly has not yet been properly clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between physical activity and lifestyle on the one hand, and health and happiness on the other hand, as it manifests in the elderly. In addition the researcher endeavoured to determine whether a link between health and happiness does indeed exist, independent of participation in physical activity. The sample consisted of 228 men and women aged 65-95 years and represented the elderly in Potchefstroom, a city in the North Western Province of South Africa. The data were collected by means of questionnaires. Participation in physical activity was determined with the Physical Activity Index (Sharkey, 1984:5). Lifestyle was determined with the Belloc and Breslow (1972:46-64) and Walker et al. (1987:76-81) questionnaires. Health status was measured by the Seriousness of Illness Rating Scale (Wyler et al., 1968:363-374) and happiness was determined with the Affectometer 2 (Kammann en Flett, 1983 :259-265). To indicate the difference between the variables, one-way analysis of variance, Newman-Keuls post hoc comparisons and two-way analysis of variance were used. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determined the variance of health status. Practical significance was determined by means of effect size, in instances where intergroup differences were

statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Physical activity showed no statistically significant (p>0.05) relation to lifestyle, health and happiness. An organized exercise programme showed a positive relation to health. The results further indicated a statistically significant (p≤ 0.05) relation between happiness and lifestyle. The better the lifestyle, the happier the person. Sleeping patterns and an organized exercise programme have been shown to be the primary factors, towards the variance of health status.