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Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
June 2003, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp 205-211
Date: 25 Jul 2013

Reduced mobility and physical activity as predictors of depressive symptoms among

community-dwelling older adults: An eight-year follow-up study
Abstract
Background and aims: Epidemiological research suggests that reduced physical activity and mobility may be associated with depressive symptoms.
The present study examines the relative roles of mobility status and physical activity as predictors of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling
older adults. Methods: The subjects comprised randomly selected, non-institutionalized residents of the city of Jyvskyl, central Finland, born in
19041923. At baseline, 80% (N=1224) and after the 8-year follow-up period (1996) 88% (N=663) of eligible persons were interviewed. All noninstitutionalized men and women (N=384) who participated in both baseline and follow-up interviews, who supplied data on the main questions of
interest and who had no depressive symptoms at baseline, were selected for analysis. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Finnish modified
version of Becks 13-item depression scale (RBDI). Physical activity was assessed on a seven-point scale. Mobility status was defined as the ability to
walk two kilometers and climb one flight of stairs. Results: Subjects who were mobility-disabled and had a sedentary life-style had a higher risk
(OR=2.44) for depressive symptoms at follow-up than those who had good mobility and were physically active. The risk was also higher (OR=1.99) in
those who were mobility-disabled and had a physically active life-style, compared with physically active individuals with intact mobility. Those with
good mobility had fewer depressive symptoms than those who had mobility problems, irrespective of the level of physical activity. No significant
interaction was observed between physical activity and mobility in predicting the development of depressive symptoms. Older age significantly
increased, and the number of chronic illnesses tended to increase the risk of developing depressive symptoms during the follow-up period. Gender and
length of education were not significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Mobility problems and older age seem to increase the risk
for developing depressive symptoms in elderly people. The risk is not associated with the level of physical activity.
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About this Article

Title
Reduced mobility and physical activity as predictors of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults: An eight-year
follow-up study
Journal
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume 15, Issue 3 , pp 205-211
Cover Date
2003-06-01
DOI
10.1007/BF03324501
Print ISSN
1594-0667
Online ISSN
1720-8319
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Additional Links
Register for Journal Updates
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About This Journal
Manuscript Submission
Topics
Geriatrics/Gerontology
Keywords
Depressive symptoms
mobility
older adults
physical activity
Authors
Pivi Lampinen (1)
Eino Heikkinen (1) (2)
Author Affiliations
1. Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Jyvskyl, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyvskyl, Finland
2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyvskyl, Jyvskyl, Finland

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