This study was to find out the effects of elderly's participation of health promotion programs on life satisfaction, self-esteem, stress, and mental health. Its main objective is to analyze the effect of program participation towards variables, and to...
This study was to find out the effects of elderly's participation of health promotion programs on life satisfaction, self-esteem, stress, and mental health. Its main objective is to analyze the effect of program participation towards variables, and to clarify inter-correlations and causal relationships by dividing the elderly's participation in health promotion programs into 3 groups and a non-participating group.
The samples were chosen as elderly over the age of 60 residing in the eastern part of Cheonnam area in 2009. The samples were collected by using simple random sampling, including 25 yoga participants, 25 dance sports participants, 25 aqua exercise participants, and 25 non-participating subjects. The survey which was used in this study included mental health check-up guestionnaire(SCL-90-R), satisfaction category guestionnaire for elderly(Self Esteem inventory) Stress guestionnaire(BEPSI-K), with the confidence level of Cronbach´s α value over .770.
For statistics, confidence level analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, multiple regression analysis were used.
According to the study results, it was found that participants of health promotion programs' impact on life satisfaction, self-esteem, stress, mental health were insufficient. However, statistical significant differences were found in correlations between program participant's mental health and variables, life satisfaction and variables, self-esteem and variables, and stress and variables. Statistical significant difference was also found in life satisfaction and mental health, self-esteem and mental health, and stress and mental health.
This statistical significant difference emphasizes the important role of improving elderly's quality of life through program participance compared to non-participants. Also, more elderly should be encouraged to participate in health promotion programs in order to secure healthy lives for their old ages.
In conclusion, although there are many variables that can affect mental health, inter-correlation in terms of mental health were proven through variables used in this study such as life satisfaction, self-esteem, and stress. Also, since it was proven that participation in health promotion programs for elderly affects their mental health. Thus it is important to stress the importance of physical activities and mental health for elderly, develop and encourage more elderly to participate in health promotion programs for elderly.