Investigating the effect of home-based physical activity schedule on the quality of life, sleep quality, and mood of the elderly at risk of depression as compared to the control group

Abstract

Background: This study aimed at investigating the effect of home-based physical activity schedule on the quality of life (QOL), sleep quality, and mood of the elderly at risk of depression as compared to the control group. Materials and Methods: The open-label randomized controlled trial was performed on 61 elderly people at risk of depression who were divided into two groups. In addition to routine care provided by the health-care center (relaxation techniques), the elderly in the intervention group were given a home-based physical activity booklet. The control group only received the routine care of the health-care center. Moreover, before and after the intervention, the results of the QOL questionnaire, petersburg sleep quality questionnaire index (PSQI), and depression questionnaire were assessed and recorded. Results: The depression scores in the 1st and 3rd months during the intervention and 1 month after the intervention were significantly lower in the intervention group with the means of 3.60 +/- 3.91, 2.03 +/- 2.43, and 2.66 +/- 3.37 as compared with the control group with the means of 5.39 +/- 2.88, 4.96 +/- 2.77, and 5.13 +/- 3.14, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the QOL and total PSQI scores in the physical and mental dimensions in the 3rd months during and 1 month after the intervention were higher in the intervention group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, the addition of home-based physical activity schedule to the routine care of the elderly can play a significant role in reducing the severity of their depression and improving their physical-psychological quality and sleep quality.