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Prospective associations of objectively assessed physical activity at different intensities with subjective well-being in older adults

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the longitudinal independent associations of objectively assessed physical activity at different intensities, including moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, and sedentary behaviors, with dimensions of subjective well-being in older adults.

Methods

A total of 307 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 or older in Taiwan were interviewed in 2012. Physical activity was assessed using triaxial accelerometry. Subjective well-being was measured using the Chinese Aging Well Profile. Among them, 295 attended an 18-month follow-up study in 2013. Hierarchical linear regression models with adjustment for socio-demographic variables, lifestyle behaviors, health status, accelerometer wear time, and state of well-being at baseline were performed.

Results

The hierarchical regression models (step one) demonstrated that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with higher levels of follow-up general and specific dimensions of well-being (β = 0.19–0.24) with the exception of material and environmental well-being. After light physical activity was further included in the models (step two), the associations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with general, physical, and independence well-being remained, while the contribution of light physical activity was not significant. In contrast, light physical activity was a significant predictor of psychological, learning and growth, and social well-being in these models (β = 0.20–0.24), while these associations with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were attenuated or not significant. Sedentary time was not related to any dimension of well-being.

Discussion

The findings indicate that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and light physical activity are associated with different dimensions of well-being, suggesting that different intensities of late-life physical activity make distinct contributions to well-being.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (104-2410-H-018-028). Professor Fox’s contribution was in part supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre based at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Oxford.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Sports and Health, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan

    Po-Wen Ku

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK

    Po-Wen Ku & Li-Jung Chen

  3. Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Kenneth R. Fox

  4. Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yung Liao

  5. Family Medicine Department, Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, Taipei, Taiwan

    Wen-Jung Sun

  6. Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan

    Li-Jung Chen

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  1. Po-Wen Ku
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  2. Kenneth R. Fox
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Correspondence to Li-Jung Chen.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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A signed, informed consent form was provided by each participant before conducting the study.

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Ku, PW., Fox, K.R., Liao, Y. et al. Prospective associations of objectively assessed physical activity at different intensities with subjective well-being in older adults. Qual Life Res 25, 2909–2919 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1309-3

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