Scientific article
OA Policy
English

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.

Keywords
  • Aging
  • Body balance
  • Falls
  • Gait speed
  • Physical activity
  • Quality of life
  • Vulnerability
Research groups
Funding
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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Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14135
Journal ISSN1660-4601
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Technical informations

Creation21/11/2022 11:20:00
First validation21/11/2022 11:20:00
Update16/03/2023 09:07:15
Status update16/03/2023 09:07:14
Last indexation01/11/2024 03:35:39
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