College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.
Department of Physical Education Teaching and Research, Heilongjiang International University, Harbin, China.
BMC Geriatr. 2024 Oct 5;24(1):811. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05407-1.
Loneliness is a risk factor for numerous negative life outcomes and diseases among older adults. Physical exercise can reduce social isolation among older adults and improve their health status. This study focused on the relationships among physical exercise, perceived social support, resilience and loneliness to provide theoretical support for physical exercise interventions to address loneliness in older adults.
This study used a structural equation model and bootstrap method to test a serial mediation model of physical exercise and loneliness and the role of perceived social support and resilience. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 516 older adults from 5 January 2024 to 20 January 2024. The data were collected using the physical activity rating scale (PARS-3), UCLA loneliness Scale-8 (ULS-8), perceived social support scale (PSSS) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC).
The results showed that physical exercise among older adults had a direct negative relationship with loneliness (Effect = -0.049, 95% CI: -0.072 to -0.027). In addition, perceived social support and resilience mediated the relationship between physical exercise and loneliness both independent and serially, with the independent mediation effect of perceived social support being - 0.041 (95% CI: -0.056 to -0.028), the independent mediation effect of resilience being - 0.018 (95% CI: -0.026 to -0.011), and the serial mediation effect of perceived social support and resilience being - 0.009 (95% CI: -0.015 to -0.005). The total indirect effect of the three mediation paths was 58.47%.
(1) In this study, physical exercise and loneliness in older adults were negatively correlated. Perceived social support and resilience play mediating roles in the relationship between physical exercise and loneliness. (2) This study suggests that participation in group events or team sports is valuable for alleviating loneliness caused by a lack of social interaction.
孤独是老年人诸多负面生活结果和疾病的一个风险因素。体育锻炼可以减少老年人的社会隔离，改善他们的健康状况。本研究聚焦于体育锻炼、感知社会支持、韧性和孤独之间的关系，为针对老年人孤独感的体育锻炼干预措施提供理论支持。
本研究采用结构方程模型和自举法检验了体育锻炼与孤独感的系列中介模型，以及感知社会支持和韧性的作用。在这项描述性和横断面研究中，于 2024 年 1 月 5 日至 20 日，对 516 名老年人进行了问卷调查。使用体育活动评定量表（PARS-3）、加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独量表-8 版（ULS-8）、感知社会支持量表（PSSS）和 Connor-Davidson 韧性量表（CD-RISC）收集数据。
结果显示，老年人的体育锻炼与孤独感呈直接负相关（效应=-0.049，95%置信区间：-0.072 至-0.027）。此外，感知社会支持和韧性独立且连续地中介了体育锻炼与孤独感之间的关系，感知社会支持的独立中介效应为-0.041（95%置信区间：-0.056 至-0.028），韧性的独立中介效应为-0.018（95%置信区间：-0.026 至-0.011），感知社会支持和韧性的连续中介效应为-0.009（95%置信区间：-0.015 至-0.005）。三条中介路径的总间接效应为 58.47%。
（1）在本研究中，老年人的体育锻炼与孤独感呈负相关。感知社会支持和韧性在体育锻炼与孤独感之间的关系中起中介作用。（2）本研究表明，参加群体活动或团队运动对于缓解因缺乏社会互动而导致的孤独感是有价值的。
