Assessing the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between physical activity levels and psychological well-being in older adults.Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 301 adults aged 65–85 who were enrolled in a primary health care center in eastern Türkiye. Data were collected between July and October 2022 using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Data analyses included Spearman correlation, regression, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).Results: Among participants, 62.5% had chronic diseases, and 57.1% did not engage in physical activity. A moderate, statistically significant positive correlation was found between physical activity and psychological well-being (r = 0.583, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that physical activity, gender, and education level significantly predicted psychological well-being (R² = 0.493, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Promoting physical activity among older adults may enhance psychological well-being. Encouraging autonomy and motivation through targeted interventions could support healthy aging and improve quality of life.