The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Israel.
Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(1):40-7. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2012.715140. Epub 2012 Aug 22.
Both loneliness and insufficient physical activity are common in old age. This study investigated the association between loneliness and adherence to recommended guidelines of physical activity in a national sample of Israelis, and examined whether loneliness was a risk factor for insufficient physical activity independent of other variables.
A random sample of 1663 (799 men) older adults aged 65+ reported their physical activity routine, and based on official guidelines were categorized as sufficiently active, insufficiently active, and inactive. In addition, they were divided into lonely or not lonely based on a single question from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
Chi-square analyses indicated that loneliness, but not living alone, were inversely related to level of physical activity in both genders. Based on multinomial stepwise logistic regressions body mass index, being religious versus secular, self-rated health, and education were associated with engaging in physical activity in men (Cox & Snell R(2) = 0.202). Loneliness contributed significantly to explaining the level of participation in physical activity beyond these variables in women, but not in men (Cox & Snell R(2) = 0.197).
Loneliness is associated with an increasing risk of inactivity in advanced age in women. Further research inquiring into whether loneliness is the cause of reduced physical activity or whether physical activity acts as a protective factor against loneliness is needed. Developing and implementing tailored intervention programs that encourage social interaction in combination with a physical activity program are recommended.
孤独和身体活动不足在老年人中都很常见。本研究调查了孤独感与以色列全国样本中老年人遵守身体活动推荐指南之间的关系，并检验了孤独感是否是身体活动不足的一个独立于其他变量的危险因素。
随机抽取了 1663 名（799 名男性）年龄在 65 岁以上的老年人，报告了他们的体育活动常规，并根据官方指南将其分为足够活跃、不活跃和不活跃。此外，他们根据《流行病学研究抑郁量表》中的一个问题分为孤独或不孤独。
卡方分析表明，孤独感而非独居与两性的身体活动水平呈负相关。基于多项逐步逻辑回归，体重指数、宗教与世俗、自我评估健康状况和教育与男性的身体活动参与有关（Cox & Snell R²=0.202）。孤独感除了这些变量外，还能显著解释女性身体活动水平，而不是男性（Cox & Snell R²=0.197）。
孤独感与女性在高龄时不活动的风险增加有关。需要进一步研究孤独感是导致身体活动减少的原因，还是身体活动是预防孤独感的保护因素。建议制定和实施量身定制的干预计划，鼓励社交互动，并结合身体活动计划。
