Enhancing Quality of Life in the Elderly: The Impact of Psychosomatic Exercises on Healthy Aging

TL;DR

This study explores how psychosomatic exercises like yoga and meditation can improve the quality of life for elderly people.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence that psychosomatic exercises may enhance overall quality of life in the elderly.

Findings

Participants practicing psychosomatic exercises scored higher in overall quality of life and general health.

No significant differences were found in other quality of life domains like physical or psychological health.

The study suggests these exercises could be valuable for healthy aging strategies.

Abstract

Older individuals constitute a significant portion of the population, and concerted efforts are underway to enhance the quality of this life stage by minimizing health issues and maximizing opportunities.

This study aims to investigate the impact of psychosomatic exercises, including practices like yoga, meditation, and tai chi, as an alternative approach to promoting healthy aging and ultimately enhancing the quality of life among elderly individuals.

The study comprised 84 participants, with 51 individuals engaging in various forms of psychosomatic exercises and 33 serving as the control group, having no prior exposure to such practices. Data collection was carried out electronically, with the initial section gathering socio-demographic information and health-related details about the participants. The second part consisted of the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life scale, consisting of 26 questions, which assessed six domains: Overall Quality of Life and General Health, Physical Health, Psychological Health, Social Relationships, and Environment. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 26.

The average age of the participants was 66.7 years. A statistically significant positive correlation was identified within the first subscale of the tool, “Overall Quality of Life and General Health,” with scores of 74.3/100 for those engaging in psychosomatic exercises and 66.7/100 for those who did not (t(82) = -2.513, p = 0.014). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the remaining subscales.

Psychosomatic exercises, including yoga, meditation, and tai chi, hold promise as a means to improve the overall quality of life and general health of elderly individuals. These practices could serve as valuable components of strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging. Further research is needed to explore their effects in greater detail and across various dimensions of well-being.

None Declared