Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?

Involvement in physical activity is associated with improved mental health including better social skills, coping mechanisms, and lower rates of depression. However, evidence on whether group or individual active environments better facilitate these benefits remains inconsistent. This cross-sectiona...

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Main Authors: Rachael C. Stone, Brad A. Meisner, Joseph Baker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/727983
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author Rachael C. Stone
Brad A. Meisner
Joseph Baker
author_facet Rachael C. Stone
Brad A. Meisner
Joseph Baker
author_sort Rachael C. Stone
collection DOAJ
description Involvement in physical activity is associated with improved mental health including better social skills, coping mechanisms, and lower rates of depression. However, evidence on whether group or individual active environments better facilitate these benefits remains inconsistent. This cross-sectional cohort study examined the mental health reports of older adults (aged 50+) in relation to participation in group or individual active environments. Logistic multivariate regression analyses were conducted on the Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 4.1, 2007-2008, n=44,057). Results illustrated that those active in both group and individual environments were 59% less likely to have a mood disorder than those who were not participating in either (P<0.001). Also, those active in both environments were 31% less likely to have a mood disorder than those active in an individual environment (P<0.001). Participating in only group or only individual environments had a similar effect compared to individuals not active in any environments for reducing rates of reported mood disorders (22% and 28%, resp.). However, the findings related to only group environments were not significant. These findings reveal that participating in both group and individual physical activities may have important implications for maintaining older adults' mental health status.
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spelling doaj-art-52173a883f964ec98589b4c4542ee2cd2025-08-20T03:36:30ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122012-01-01201210.1155/2012/727983727983Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?Rachael C. Stone0Brad A. Meisner1Joseph Baker2School of Kinesiology & Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology & Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, CanadaInvolvement in physical activity is associated with improved mental health including better social skills, coping mechanisms, and lower rates of depression. However, evidence on whether group or individual active environments better facilitate these benefits remains inconsistent. This cross-sectional cohort study examined the mental health reports of older adults (aged 50+) in relation to participation in group or individual active environments. Logistic multivariate regression analyses were conducted on the Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 4.1, 2007-2008, n=44,057). Results illustrated that those active in both group and individual environments were 59% less likely to have a mood disorder than those who were not participating in either (P<0.001). Also, those active in both environments were 31% less likely to have a mood disorder than those active in an individual environment (P<0.001). Participating in only group or only individual environments had a similar effect compared to individuals not active in any environments for reducing rates of reported mood disorders (22% and 28%, resp.). However, the findings related to only group environments were not significant. These findings reveal that participating in both group and individual physical activities may have important implications for maintaining older adults' mental health status.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/727983
spellingShingle Rachael C. Stone
Brad A. Meisner
Joseph Baker
Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?
Journal of Aging Research
title Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?
title_full Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?
title_fullStr Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?
title_full_unstemmed Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?
title_short Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: “Me” versus “Us,” or Both?
title_sort mood disorders among older adults participating in individual and group active environments me versus us or both
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/727983
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