1. Limitations and Future Directions
Relationship Between Physical Activity and Depression in Elderly Costa Ricans Shu Li1,2, Michelle Cheselka1, Kristen Harris1 1 Kent State Universtiy, Kent, Ohio 2 Medical Mutual of Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio
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Introduction
Methods
Results
Table. The Differences in Mean Geriatric Depression Scale By Exercise, Smoke, and Number of Friends
Dataset:
the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES), a part of the Health and Retirement Surveys (HRS)
Cohort:
9,600 individuals
55 years of age or older
Sampling method:
Random selection from the database of the Census of Population of the year 2000
Regression and Correlation analysis
Variable N
Depression Scale
p-Value
Mean (SD)
Exercise
<0.0001
Yes
325
12.50 (13.94) No
1072
19.11 (20.00)
Missing 3
Smokes
0.3936 80
19.63 (22.23)
1320
17.45 (18.76)
Number of Friends
0.0001
None 37
25.62 (24.98)
1-2
19.35 (17.75)
3-9
1800
21.97 (23.56)
10 or more
1144
16.52 (17.79) 2
Variables inspected
Geriatric Depression Scale
Smoke Exercise
Number of Friends
Tests Performed:
T-test of Independence
ANOVA
Image from Diabetes Care Flickr Account
Depression – a major public health issue
Common and serious medical illness
Affects how individuals feel and function
If depression remains untreated, it can progress to many physical and emotional problems, not to mention, reduce a person’s ability to function at work and at home.
Conclusion
Limitations and Future Directions
The relationship between physical activity and depression is significant
The relationship between number of friends and depression is significant
The relationship between smokes and depression is not significant
Limitations:
There were a certain number of missing values
Due to the no-answer rate caused by interviewees
Participation was also totally voluntary
Some people who were truly depressed, advanced in age, or had disabilities might or might not have participated
Future Directions :
Clinical data-variables can be more accurately measured
Eliminates voluntarily self-evaluated survey data
Purpose
To assess the relationship between physical activity in the past 12 months and depression in the elderly Costa Rican population.
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