The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of group aerobic exercise program over a 3-week period on psychophysiological parameters among the midlife and elderly people. A repeated measure quasi-experimental design was employed. The study took place in a hospital's OPD. Purposive sampling was used, 30 participants aged 50 years or over were selected. The average age was 61.79 (SD = 8.24). Participants received a 20 minutes group aerobic exercise 3 times a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Participants were evaluated for psychopyisiological parameters including flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, depression, and life satisfaction. While controlling for pretreatment scores and baseline scores on self-rated health status, age, exercise habit, hypotheses were tested using repeated measures of ANCOVA. Findings were that subjects had significantly better life satisfaction over the three posttests, (F = 11.69, p < .01), but other parameters were not significant. The findings provide evidence for health caregivers to use aerobic exercise as an empirical-based intervention for life satisfaction in older adults. (Tzu Chi Nursing Journal, 2004; 3:2, 50-58.)
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of group aerobic exercise program over a 3-week period on psychophysiological parameters among the midlife and elderly people. A repeated measure quasi-experimental design was employed. The study took place in a hospital's OPD. Purposive sampling was used, 30 participants aged 50 years or over were selected. The average age was 61.79 (SD = 8.24). Participants received a 20 minutes group aerobic exercise 3 times a week for 3 consecutive weeks. Participants were evaluated for psychopyisiological parameters including flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, depression, and life satisfaction. While controlling for pretreatment scores and baseline scores on self-rated health status, age, exercise habit, hypotheses were tested using repeated measures of ANCOVA. Findings were that subjects had significantly better life satisfaction over the three posttests, (F = 11.69, p < .01), but other parameters were not significant. The findings provide evidence for health caregivers to use aerobic exercise as an empirical-based intervention for life satisfaction in older adults. (Tzu Chi Nursing Journal, 2004; 3:2, 50-58.)