The Prompt Impact of Health Promotion Activities by Utilizing Online Group Exercises on Community-Dwelling Older People with Psychological Depression

Abstract

Aims

Developing new health promotion strategies is crucial, considering the physical inactivity among older people due to COVID-19. This study conducted health promotion activities by utilizing online group exercises to examine their immediate psychological effects.

Methods

Thirty-six community-dwelling older women performed online group exercises with instructions live-streamed via Zoom. We used a shortened version of the 2nd edition of the Profile of Mood States (POMS 2) to collect data on physical, mental, and cognitive function before and after the activity.

Results

All 36 participants had an age range of 75 ± 7. They completed the activity without dropping out. Participants were active and had high cognitive function, but 30% showed depressive tendencies before the activity. After the activity, the results of the POMS 2 showed a significant improvement in depressive tendencies.

Conclusion

Online group exercise can improve negative psychological feelings, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, among community-dwelling older people.

Keywords:

• Older people
• covid-19
• online exercise
• depression
• POMS2

Acknowledgments

We am grateful to the elderly group of Hakusan-city for the main results of this paper were obtained and Editage for carefully proofreading the manuscript.

Authors’ contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to all of the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted, and (4) agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.