The impact of physical activity on the quality of life and level of self-satisfaction among seniors

Anna Twardowska1, Sławomir Drozd1, Marian Rzepko1, Maciej Brożyna1, Łukasz Godek1*, Robert Czaja1

J. Sport. Res. and Innov., vol. 1, May 2025

1Medical College, Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, University of Rzeszów 35-959. Poland
*Correspondence: lgodek@ur.edu.pl

Abstract

Background: Older adults face increasing challenges in maintaining their physical and mental well-being; physical activity plays a key role in enhancing quality of life and overall satisfaction, partic-ularly in the post-pandemic context. The objective was to evaluate the impact of combining individ-ualized aerobic training in accordance with WHO guidelines and supervised group training ses-sions on depressive symptoms, satisfaction, and quality of life in individuals aged ≥ 60 years. Methods: Sixty older adults were assessed before and after the intervention. The Beck Depression Inven-tory and the Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention included individualized aerobic exercise plans and four supervised group training sessions. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate changes, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The average Beck Depression Inventory score decreased from 9.56 ± 7.30 to 7.63 ± 6.40 (p < 0.001). The number of seniors frequently experiencing feelings of guilt dropped from 56 to 28 (p = 0.03), and low life satisfaction decreased from 55 to 27 (p = 0.04). The proportion of individuals without de-pressive symptoms increased, while cases of moderate depression declined. Conclusions: The com-bination of aerobic and group training significantly reduces depressive symptoms and enhances life satisfaction among older adults. Implementing such programs in preventive strategies may posi-tively impact the quality of life in the elderly population.

Keywords: physical activity, psychophysical health, satisfaction

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