Exercise boosts self-esteem in the elderly
NEW YORK, Aug 02 (Reuters Health) - Exercise has long been promoted for its ability to make people "feel good." Now research shows that for the elderly, getting fit may shape up their self-esteem.
In a study of 153 adults aged 60 to 75, researchers found that 6 months of regular workouts--walking or strengthening exercises--improved the way the participants felt about themselves.
A team led by Dr. Edward McAuley of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reports the findings in the August issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
The study participants took part in one of two supervised exercise programs three times per week: one in which they walked briskly in a mall, and one in which they performed stretching and toning exercises. Before and after the 6-month programs, McAuley's team assessed how participants felt about their fitness, strength and attractiveness. Both exercise programs appeared to improve these feelings, the investigators found.
Six months after the programs ended, however, self-esteem dropped off somewhat. While 75% of the strengthening group had continued to exercise, only half of the walkers had kept up the program. Stretching and toning, the authors note, may be easier for older people to continue because they can do it at home.
In both groups, the report indicates, feelings of self-worth depended largely upon whether participants felt they were attractive and fit. The researchers note that it is well-established that how people feel about their appearance affects their self-esteem throughout life, and that "an attractive body may be synonymous with self-esteem for many individuals."
The fact that physical activity can enhance self-esteem in older adults is a "heartening public health message," McAuley and colleagues add.
SOURCE: Annals of Behavioral Medicine August 2000.
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