Physical activity, physical mobility, and mental health among persons 70 years or older: results from a large population-based study in Sweden.

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity, impaired physical mobility and poor mental health are common in the older population and increasing as the population ages. We examined the relationships between physical activity, physical mobility, and mental health in the general population of older adults.

METHODS

The study is based on 12 959 men and women aged 70 years or older answering a survey questionnaire sent to a random population sample in Mid-Sweden in 2022 (response rate 66%). The associations between physical activity (at least 150 min/week), physical mobility (no difficulties e.g. in walking short distances or climbing stairs) and mental health were investigated with multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusting for gender, age group and educational level. Mental health was measured with symptoms of anxiety or worry, and self-reported diagnosed depression.

RESULTS

In total, 51% were physically inactive and 31% had impaired physical mobility. Symptoms of anxiety or worry (33%) were more common among older people who were physically inactive than among those who were physically active (24%). The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety or worry was also higher among those with impaired physical mobility (40%) than among those with physical mobility (23%). Physical inactivity and impaired physical mobility were also associated with self-reported depression. When stratified by physical mobility, physical inactivity was significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety or worry (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.34) and self-reported depression (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.27-2.17) among those with physical mobility, whereas no association was found among those with impaired physical mobility.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that physical activity is positively associated with mental health among older people with physical mobility. However, about one in three in the older population has impaired physical mobility with poorer mental health irrespective of physical activity. These results are important for promoting mental health in an aging population.