A case study of the relationship between physical activity and ADL (Activities of Daily Living) to life satisfaction of the "old-old" elderly

Abstract

Case studies were performed to identify any factors defining life satisfaction among the "old-old" (75 years and older) elderly by quantitatively and qualitatively focusing on participation in physical and sports activities and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). In order to obtain information on both ADL and life satisfaction, semistructured interviews were conducted with thirty elderly individuals (16 males and 14 females). The subjects were divided into two physical activity groups : active and inactive. 'Active' subjects were those who exercised regularly (regular exercise : three or more times per week for 20 min or longer), while 'inactive' persons did not engage in physical activity. The subjects ranged in age from 75 to 89 years, with a mean age of 80 years. ADL was a concept developed by Demura et al. (1997) and has been used in Japan as an index of motorrelated fitness. It consists of 12 items, presented in Likert-type (three-point) response format : walking, running, jumping, climbing stairs, standing, changing clothes and sitting up. The summed overall ADL score was calculated, the theoretical maximum being 36. The ADL score among the subjects ranged between 12 and 36, with a mean of 26. The scale of life satisfaction developed by Brown & Frankel (1988), revised by Yamaguchi et al. (1996), was used to measure the degree of life satisfaction. This includes seven items measured by a five-point Likert-type scale : leisure satisfaction, health condition, economic situation, living situation, relationships with friends, relationships with family members and overall satisfaction with life. The summed overall score for life satisfaction has a theoretical maximum of 35. The range of life satisfaction among the subjects was between 20 and 35, with a mean of 30. It is concluded that ADL and life satisfaction among "old-old" active elderly individuals are both high in comparison with the elderly investigated in previous research. However, it appears that life satisfaction among these individuals is also influenced by social support.