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Scientific article
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Exploring Mediation Effects of Gait Speed, Body Balance, and Falls in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Vulnerable Older Adults

Publication date2022-10-29
First online date2022-10-29
Abstract

The present study aimed to examine whether gait speed (GS), body balance (BB), and falls mediated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older adults. This is a cross-sectional study that included 305 men and 314 women (69.5 ± 5.6 years), residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. HRQoL and PA were assessed using the SF-36 and Baecke Questionnaires, respectively. While BB was obtained by the Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB) scale, GS by the 50-foot (15 m) walk test, and the frequency of falls was obtained by self-report. According to the analyses, when GS and BB were placed concomitantly as mediators, the direct effect revealed by the model revealed a non-significant relationship between PA and falls. Thus, in the context of falls, GS and BB partially mediated the association between PA and HRQoL in approximately 29.7%, 56%, and 49.2%, respectively. The total HRQoL model explained a variance of 36.4%. The results can help to understand the role that GS, BB, and falls play in the relationship between PA and HRQoL of the vulnerable older adult population.

eng
Keywords
  • Aging
  • Body balance
  • Falls
  • Gait speed
  • Physical activity
  • Quality of life
  • Vulnerability
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Citation (ISO format)
DE MAIO NASCIMENTO, Marcelo et al. Exploring Mediation Effects of Gait Speed, Body Balance, and Falls in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Vulnerable Older Adults. In: International journal of environmental research and public health, 2022, vol. 19, n° 21, p. 14135. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114135
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ISSN of the journal1660-4601
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Creation11/21/2022 11:20:00 AM
First validation11/21/2022 11:20:00 AM
Update time03/16/2023 9:07:15 AM
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