Actual and Virtual Parks Benefit Quality of Life and Physical Activity: A Cluster Trial.

Urban parks provide connectedness to nature as a health resilience environment for promoting health. Virtual reality can provide opportunities for urban citizens to be exposed to natural elements with health benefits. The purpose was to explore the effects of actual and virtual parks on the quality of life and physical activity of urban residents. The study design was a cluster trial. Participants were healthy adults aged 20-50 years, recruited from three college campuses, and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n = 30, 32) and one control group (n = 30). The intervention with virtual or actual parks was conducted for 30 min a session once a week for 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured using self-reported questionnaires, including the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale-BREF and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. In total, 84 participants completed the interventions and post-intervention measures. Results showed that participants who experienced actual parks had significant increases in the social quality of life and light-intensity physical activity and had decreased body weight. Participants who experienced the virtual parks experienced a significant increase in their mental quality of life. Participants in the experimental groups of both kinds of parks had significant improvements in their self-rated health, physical and environmental quality of life, and sedentary time after the intervention. Urban parks are an important natural resource for citizens' health and physical activity promotion. Virtual parks can simulate actual parks and have similar health benefits and are thus are recommended for citizens who lack opportunities and motivation to go to actual parks.

Domain-specific Physical Activity and the Risk of All-cause Mortality Among Middle-aged and Older Adults in Taiwan: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of meeting leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) recommendations and household physical activity (HPA) on all-cause mortality in the Taiwanese population is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sufficient LTPA and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Taiwanese adults and the role of HPA in those with insufficient LTPA. METHODS: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 4,960 participants aged ≥50 years from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging (TLSA) survey. Physical activity patterns were assessed in 2003 and then followed up until 2015 for mortality through the National Death Registration Record. Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to evaluate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of the 4,960 participants, 1,712 died of all-cause mortality. Compared to those who had insufficient LTPA, participants who engaged in sufficient LTPA showed a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.84, 95% CI, 0.73-0.97). For those with insufficient LTPA, HPA also had a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.75-0.96) among general population. Similar associations were observed in subsequent sensitivity analyses. The subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between HPA and reduced mortality risk was only found in the women with insufficient LTPA group. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that sufficient LTPA is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. If sufficient LTPA cannot be performed, additional HPA is related to lower mortality.

Associations between older adults' social media use behaviors and psychosocial well-being.

BACKGROUND: Research examining associations between social media use behaviors and psychosocial well-being among older adults are limited. AIMS: To explore associations between older adults' social media (social networking services and instant messaging applications) use behaviors and psychosocial well-being. METHODS: This was a secondary data analysis. All data were retrieved from the Taiwan Communication Survey database, an annual survey that examines trends in Taiwanese residents' communication behaviors and social media use. The original investigation was conducted in Taiwan from September to December 2019. Data from 647 older adults aged over 60 years were extracted for the analyses. Social media use behaviors (users/non-users and time spent using), positive psychosocial outcomes (life satisfaction, self-determination, subjective well-being, and happiness), negative psychosocial outcomes (loneliness, depression, and anxiety), and demographic variables were included. RESULTS: Social media users had significantly higher levels of subjective well-being and lower levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness compared with non-users. Time spent on social networking services was significantly and positively correlated with negative psychosocial outcomes (ß = 0.103, p = 0.044, f2 = 0.011), and it was significantly and inversely correlated with positive psychosocial outcomes (ß = - 0.063, p = 0.049, f2 = 0.004). Time spent using an instant messaging application was significantly positively associated with positive psychosocial outcomes (ß = 0.068, p = 0.031, f2 = 0.005). The proposed path model had an acceptable model fit. DISCUSSION: Study results indicated that older adults' social media use behaviors were associated with their psychosocial well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults are recommended to use social media for appropriate time periods as an important way to promote social engagement for their psychosocial well-being.

Awareness of and subjective needs for post-discharge healthcare services among older adult patients.

BACKGROUND: Increasing patient awareness of post-discharge care resources is an effective strategy to reduce rehospitalization rates and medical costs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore hospitalized older adult patients' awareness of and subjective demands for post-discharge healthcare services. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was conducted from November 2018 to May 2020. STROBE statement was completed. Participants were inpatients over 65 years of age in the general ward of a medical center in northern Taiwan. A questionnaire was used to collect data by face-to-face interviews. Two hundred and twelve participants were recruited. Home nursing care, home rehabilitation, home respiratory therapy, home services, assistive devices rental, and transportation were the main post-discharge healthcare services in this study. RESULTS: Overall, 83.5% of older adult patients were aware of and 55.7% of the older adult patients demanded at least one post-discharge healthcare services. Logistic regression results found that, patients experiencing moderate to severe disability and cognitive impairment, and those hospitalized in the past year had significantly higher demands for services. CONCLUSIONS: Developing post-discharge healthcare services for older adult patients provides continuous patient-centered services for assisting patients and their families in adapting to the transition period of the post-acute stage. Satisfying these demands is beneficial for older adult patients and their families, as well as for reducing readmissions and medical costs.

Health comparisons between active and inactive transport modes in urban adults with chronic conditions: A cross-sectional study.

An active transport mode provides an opportunity for integrating physical activity into one's daily life through walking, cycling, and the use of public transportation. The purpose of this study was to compare urban adults with chronic conditions who used active and inactive transport modes and to find differences in their health outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to May 2020. Participants were urban adults who self-reported being overweight or obese, or having a diagnosis of chronic disease. Anonymous structured self-reported questionnaires were used for data collection, including the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form, and the frequency of eight modes of transportation. According to differences between the frequency score of weekly active and inactive transportation, participants were categorized into inactive, balanced, and active transport modes. In total, 617 valid responses were obtained. Participants who engaged in an active transport mode were found to have significantly less sedentary time, and better comprehensive, social, and environmental aspects of quality of life than those with an inactive transport mode. Engaging in active transportation and avoiding inactive transportation are recommended for urban adults with chronic diseases.

Prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with diet and physical activity in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

This cross-sectional study explored the prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults with type 2 diabetes and investigated the effects of diet and physical activity on sarcopenia. In total, 577 older adults with diabetes were recruited from a teaching hospital in Taiwan. Diet and physical activity were assessed using self-rated questionnaires, including the Healthy Diet Inventory, the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Sarcopenia was defined in accordance with the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 guidelines. In total, 51.12% of participants had either possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia, or severe sarcopenia. Participants who were female, old age, prolonged sedentary times, poor nutritional status, and lower level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were identified as risk factors for possible to severe sarcopenia. Older adults with diabetes and possible to severe sarcopenia had poor nutrition status and engaged in inadequate physical activity. The findings indicate that sarcopenia may be related to nutrition status and physical activity, especially in older adults with diabetes.

Smart Wearable Device Users' Behavior Is Essential for Physical Activity Improvement.

BACKGROUNDS: This study aimed to explore the effect on physical activity and sedentary behavior of users of wearable devices, and understand the association between physical activity and behavior. METHODS: This study conducted a three-arm, randomized controlled trial for 12 weeks. Healthy adults without experience of using a wearable device were recruited and were randomly assigned to a control group with a mobile app and two experimental groups with different smart wearable devices. Data were collected through questionnaires. RESULTS: No significant effect of group, time, or group-by-time interaction among groups for physical activity, sedentary time, or sleep quality was found. Wearing duration significantly positively predicted changes in low-intensity and total physical activity. The number of times the device was checked negatively predicted a change in sedentary time. CONCLUSIONS: The behavior of wearable device users is an essential factor for successfully increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary time.

The efficacy of commercial smartwatches with a blood pressure-monitoring feature: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to explore the efficacy of a commercial smartwatch with a blood pressure-monitoring feature. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Sixty healthy young adults were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to wear a commercial smartwatch, one with and one without a blood pressure-monitoring feature for 12 weeks. Data were collected using Omron HEM-907, Inbody 270S, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. FINDINGS: Results revealed a significant effect and group-by-time interaction on diastolic blood pressure. After 12 weeks in participants who wore a smartwatch with a blood pressure-monitoring feature, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate had decreased. CONCLUSION: Using commercial smartwatches with a blood pressure-monitoring feature is a feasible approach to support self-management, increase awareness, and promote physical activity for health promotion, obesity and chronic disease prevention. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Wearable technologies may be an innovative strategy for preventing high blood pressure by continuous self-monitoring and healthy behavior modifications.

Exploration of risk factors for high-risk adverse events in elderly patients after discharge and comparison of discharge planning screening tools.

OBJECTIVES: Discharge planning is an effective strategy to prevent adverse health events and reduce medical expenditures. The high-risk target populations of discharged elderly patients and important predictors for the occurrence of adverse events are still not clear. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to examine the validity of discharge planning screening tools in sufficiently identifying high-risk adverse events to health after discharge and to compare two screening tools with our study model. DESIGN: We conducted a prospective study and recruited elderly patients who had had no hospitalization within 3 months before admission to 13 general wards of a medical center in northern Taiwan from November 2018 to May 2020. METHODS: Elderly patients were randomly selected during the study period. Within 24 h of admission, patients were asked to consent to join this study. After the patient was discharged, the patient's health and hospitalization for the next year were tracked by telephone interviews. RESULTS: In total, 300 participants were recruited for this study. Incidences of high-risk adverse events within 30 days, 60 days, and 12 months after discharge were 20.3%, 25.7%, and 48.7% respectively. A logistic regression showed that an increased age, physical or mental disabilities or a major illness, a low body-mass index, and having been hospitalized in the past year were significantly related to the occurrence of high-risk events among elderly discharge patients. The pooled sensitivity of the Pra was 52% and the specificity was 72%; the pooled sensitivity of the LACE index was 67% and the specificity was 36%. The predictive model of this study had a higher discriminatory power than the Pra and LACE index for high-risk events after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients are more vulnerable to high-risk adverse events after discharge. Both the LACE index and Pra are useful discharge planning screening tools to screen for high-risk adverse events after discharge. Elderly patients need more-active and complete continuity of care plans and discharge planning services to ensure that the overall quality of patient care can be improved and readmissions and mortality reduced. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings of this study can provide information for discharge planning managers to identify high-risk elderly patients during hospitalization and promptly offer care education or resources to improve care management.

Walking and cycling for health: A multi-group analysis of path models between genders.

AIMS: Walking and cycling are beneficial for urban adults' health. Transport and recreation are modifiable domains of major physical activity resources. The purposes of this study were to explore associations among psychological and environmental factors, walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life by developing a path model and comparing gender differences. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: Participants were community-dwelling healthy urban adults aged 20-65 years. Data were collected between September 2019 and June 2020 by self-reported questionnaires, including health beliefs, the neighbourhood environment, walking and cycling behaviours and the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. An ANCOVA, chi-squared tests, partial least squares-path model and a multi-group analysis were performed for statistical analyses. RESULTS: In total, 1294 valid responses were received, which included 41.27% men and 58.73% women. Men had lower walking behaviours and better self-efficacy than women. The developed path model indicated an acceptable model fit. Significant path coefficients were found among psychological and environmental factors, walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life. The path model between men and women found no significant differences in any path coefficients. Significant path coefficients of environmental factors with cycling behaviour and of walking behaviour with quality of life were found in men but not in women. CONCLUSION: Improving individuals' health beliefs, self-efficacy and perceived walkability and cyclability is a beneficial strategy for promoting physical activity. Walking and cycling behaviours are recommended to improve the quality of life of urban adult populations. IMPACTS: What problem did the study address? A large proportion of urban adult populations still have insufficient physical activity globally. It is essential that implications from an overall perspective of psychological and environmental factors and their interactions be integrated to develop efficient strategies for promoting physical activity and quality of life. What were the main findings? The developed path model with an acceptable model fit found that psychological and environmental factors were important in explaining urban adults' walking and cycling behaviours and quality of life. Differences were not found between men's and women's path models. Where and on whom will the research have impact? Improving urban adults' psychological and environmental factors might be an efficient strategy for promoting sufficient physical activity. Men's low engagement in walking behaviours should garner increased attention. Providing equal opportunities for both genders to engage in walking and cycling behaviours are recommended for health promotion in urban regions.

Social engagement for mental health: An international survey of older populations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Social engagement is an important active aging strategy to promote older adults' mental health. The purposes of this study were to compare social engagement in older populations around the world and explore associations with mental health outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An international cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2019. Data were retrieved from The International Social Survey Programme for a secondary data analysis across 30 countries. This study applied the Taxonomy of Social Activities and its six levels as operational definitions for a consistent concept of social engagement for international comparisons. RESULTS: In total, 9403 older adults with a mean age of 72.85 ± 6.40 years responded. The highest levels of older adults' social engagement were found in Switzerland, Thailand, and New Zealand. Older adults of a higher age, with a lower educational level, who were permanently sick or disabled, who had no partner, who were widowed or whose civil partner had died, who lived alone, and who had lower self-placement in society had significantly lower social engagement than did their counterparts. In the regression model, older adults' social engagement positively predicted general health, self-accomplishment, and life satisfaction, but negatively predicted loneliness and depression. CONCLUSIONS: In aging societies worldwide, encouraging older adults' social engagement would be beneficial to promote mental health. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICIES: Community professional nurses can develop strategies of social engagement based on the needs and sociodemographic factors of older adults to improve their mental health. Developing efficient strategies and local policies by learning from successful experiences in other countries is important to promote social engagement in aging societies.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Immune and Inflammatory Markers in Athletes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Background and Objectives: Probiotic supplementation can prevent and alleviate gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections in healthy individuals. Markers released from the site of inflammation are involved in the response to infection or tissue injury. Therefore, we measured the pre-exercise and postexercise levels of inflammation-related markers-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, and C-reactive protein (CRP)-in probiotic versus placebo groups to investigate the effects of probiotics on these markers in athletes. Probiotics contained multiple species (e.g., Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, etc.). Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic search for studies published until May 2022 and included nine randomized clinical trials. Reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guideline. Fixed-effects meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed. Subgroup analyses were conducted on the basis of the period of probiotic intervention and timing of postassessment blood sampling. Results: The levels of IFN-γ and salivary IgA exhibited a significant positive change, whereas those of TNF-α and IL-10 demonstrated a negative change in the probiotic group. The subgroup analysis revealed that the probiotic group exhibited significant negative changes in TNF-α and IL-10 levels in the shorter intervention period. For the subgroup based on the timing of postassessment blood sampling, the subgroup whose blood sample collection was delayed to at least the next day of exercise exhibited significant negative changes in their TNF-α and IL-10 levels. The subgroups whose blood samples were collected immediately after exercise demonstrated negative changes in their TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10 levels. Conclusions: Probiotic supplementation resulted in significant positive changes in the IFN-γ and salivary IgA levels and negative changes in the IL-10 and TNF-α levels. No significant changes in the IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, or CRP levels were observed after probiotic use in athletes.

Lifestyle factors associated with muscle quality in community-dwelling older people with type 2 diabetes in Japan and Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), common in older people, is an important reason for muscle loss in Japanese and Taiwanese populations. However, little is known about the association between lifestyle behaviours and muscle quality. We aimed to compare the lifestyle behaviours of Japanese and Taiwanese older adults with T2DM and to the identify lifestyle factors associated with muscle quality. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among community-dwelling individuals with T2DM aged ≥65 years in Taiwan and Japan. Totally, 114 Japanese and 226 Taiwanese participants were enrolled in the study. Outcomes were measured by blood biochemical examinations, body composition analyses and structured self-reported questionnaires to assess lifestyle behaviours and muscle quality. Linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between lifestyle factors and muscle quality using SPSS version 27.0 with a statistical significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Japanese subjects were more likely to be smokers and alcohol consumers, and they were less likely to have well-balanced diets and engage in more physical activity as compared to Taiwanese subjects. The muscle quality in the Japanese subjects was significantly poorer than that in the Taiwanese subjects. Physical activity, dietary habits and smoking were associated with muscle quality, after adjusting for age, gender and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity of insufficient intensity, unhealthy dietary habits and smoking could be risk factors for poor muscle quality. These findings can contribute to the development of effective strategies to improve muscle quality in community-dwelling older Asian people with T2DM.

Smart wearable devices as a psychological intervention for healthy lifestyle and quality of life: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Creating a healthy lifestyle is important across different life stages. Commercial smart wearable devices are an innovative and interesting approach as an early psychological intervention for modifying health-related behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of smart wearable devices on health-promoting lifestyles and quality of life. METHODS: The study design was a three-parallel randomized controlled trial with a 3-month intervention. Two commercial smart wearable devices (smartwatches and smart bracelets) with different levels of complicated functions were applied as a psychological intervention in comparison with a smartphone app as the control group. Participants were healthy young adults with a median age of 26 years. Outcome measurements were conducted by self-administered questionnaires. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were performed for testing the difference of participants at baseline, and generalized estimating equations were performed for testing the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: At the beginning, 81 participants were recruited and 73 participants completed the study. Results of a healthy lifestyle demonstrated significant group effects of exercise and a significant effect of the interaction for self-actualization and stress management in the experimental group with a smartwatch (Self-actualization: MD = 0.35[- 0.10,0.80]; Exercise: MD = 0.21[- 0.33 0.75]; Stress management: MD = 0.36[- 0.04,0.76]) by comparing with only using mobile app (Self-actualization: MD = - 0.03[- 0.25,0.18]; Exercise: MD = - 0.12[- 0.38,0.14]; Stress management, MD = - 0.28[- 0.55,0.00]). The significant effect of group-by-time interaction for self-actualization was found in the experimental group with a smart bracelet (MD = 0.05[- 0.30,0.20]) by comparing with the control group. The GEE-adjusted model indicated significant effects of the interaction on the comprehensive, physical, and mental quality of life in the experimental group with the smartwatch (Comprehensive: MD = 0.24[- 0.04,0.52]; Physical: MD = 0.67[0.26,1.09]; Mental: MD = 0.72[0.29,1.16]) by comparing with the control group (Comprehensive: MD = - 1.57[- 2.55, - 0.59]; Physical: MD = 0.25[0.00,0.50]; Mental: MD = 0.08[- 0.11,0.27]). CONCLUSION: From a psychological perspective, smart wearable devices have potential benefits of shaping a healthy lifestyle and improving the quality of life. Enhancing the utility of commercial well-designed smart wearable devices is an innovative and effective strategy for promoting public health.

Impacts of tai chi exercise on functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults with mild degenerative knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative osteoarthritis (OA) often leads to pain and stiffness of the affected joints, which may affect the physical performance and decrease the quality of life of people with degenerative knee OA. Compared to traditional exercise, tai chi is a safe exercise with slow movements which can facilitate physical functioning and psychological well being, and might be suitable for improving the physical activities of older adults with knee OA. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of tai chi exercise on the functional fitness of community-dwelling older adults with degenerative knee OA. METHODS: Sixty-eight community-dwelling older adults with knee OA were recruited from the local community to participate in this randomized controlled clinical trial. All subjects were randomly assigned to either an TCE group that practiced tai chi exercise (TCE) (n = 36) or a control group (CON) (n = 32) that received regular health education programs twice per week for 12 weeks. Outcome measurements were determined using functional fitness tests before and after the intervention, including a 30-s chair stand (number of repeats), 30-s arm-curl (number of repeats), 2-min step (number of steps), chair sit-and-reach (reaching distance, cm), back-scratch flexibility (distance between hands, cm), single-leg stand (time, s), functional reach (reaching distance, cm), 8-foot up-and-go (time, s), and 10-m walk tests (time, s). Pre-post comparisons of functional fitness were analyzed using the ANCOVA test with SPSS software version 18.0. RESULTS: Results revealed that participants' functional fitness in the TCE group had significantly higher adjusted mean post-tests scores than that in the CON group after the intervention, including the 8-foot up-and-go (s) (mean difference [MD]=-2.92 [-3.93, -1.91], p = 2.39*10- 7), 30-s arm curl (MD = 4.75 (2.76, 6.73), p = 1.11*10- 5), 2-min step (MD = 36.94 [23.53, 50.36], p = 7.08*10- 7), 30-s chair stand (MD = 4.66 [2.97, 6.36], p = 6.96*10- 7), functional-reach (MD = 5.86 [3.52, 8.20], p = 4.72*10- 6), single-leg stand with eyes closed (MD = 3.44 [1.92, 4.97], p = 2.74*10- 5), chair sit-and-reach (MD = 3.93 [1.72, 6.15], p = 0.001), and single-leg stand with eyes opened (MD = 17.07 [6.29, 27.85], p = 0.002), with large effect sizes (η²=0.14 ~ 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Community-dwelling older adults with knee OA in the TCE group had better functional fitness performances after the 12-week tai chi intervention than those receiving only health education.

The Prevalence and Perceived Health Factors of Healthy Eating and Active Living: An International Older Population-Based Study.

Engaging in healthy eating and active living is an effective strategy for preventing noncommunicable diseases in older populations. The purposes were to compare the prevalence rates across countries and explore health factors associated with healthy eating and active living. The data were retrieved from a cross-sectional study conducted by the International Social Survey Program (2011 Health and Healthcare), with structured questionnaire surveys in 32 countries. The results showed that 38.42% reported active living and 39.11% reported healthy eating among 11,250 total respondents. Older adults with a long-standing illness or obesity who felt that they were not overcoming problems and had lost confidence were less likely to engage in healthy behavior. Perceived general health had a positive association with the odds of engaging in healthy eating and active living. The international comparisons provide a reference for local governments to decrease health disparities. Inspiring self-awareness about health might encourage older adults to pursue healthy lifestyles.

Quality of life in older adults: Benefits from the productive engagement in physical activity.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Productive engagement can be a strategy to reduce stress and chaos. Physical activity, a basic type of productive activity, could benefit older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how productive engagement in physical activity may influence older adults in maintaining their health-related quality of life when they live in a long-term care facility. METHODS: We used purposive sampling to recruit 163 participants from 14 long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Data were collected through individual interviews with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test were used. RESULTS: The result demonstrated that the preferred type of physical activities for the older adults was similar after the relocation. Older adults with increasing productive engagement in physical activity reported better scores of Mental Component Summary, social and emotional role functioning than those with decreasing productive engagement in physical activity. CONCLUSION: Older adults can have a positive perceived health-related quality of life by consistently or increasingly engaging in productive physical activity, especially when encountering a life event.

Household physical activity and subjective well-being: An international comparison among East Asian older adult populations.

PURPOSE: Engaging in lifelong physical activity has multiple health benefits for older populations. Household physical activity occupies older adults' awake time, and they can be an important energy expenditure during the day. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between older adults' household physical activity and subjective well-being in four East Asian societies. METHODS: The study design was a secondary data analysis. Data were retrieved from the module of Families 2016 in the database of the East Asian Social Survey. Participants were community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 70.30±7.50 years and who lived in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Data were collected by interviews via structured questionnaires between 2016 and 2018. Descriptive analyses, independent t-tests, and an analysis of covariance were performed for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: In total, there were 3,432 valid responses. Participants who lived in Taiwan had significantly lower levels of total household physical activity than those living in other societies. Older adults' household physical activity was found to significantly differ by age, educational degree, gender, religion, marital status, occupation, and whether living alone. Older adults with high levels of household physical activity had significantly higher self-rated health and marital satisfaction than those with low levels. CONCLUSIONS: Household physical activity has potential benefits for subjective well-being across international older adult populations. Increasing household physical activity is recommended for older married couples to maintain marital satisfaction.

Leisure Participation for Mental Health Promotion in Later Life: A Six-Year Longitudinal Study.

Engaging in leisure activities is essential for mental health in older adults. This longitudinal study (n = 1,101, mean age = 69.20 ± 6.23 years at baseline) examined the associations between leisure participation and mental health over 6 years in three waves: 2016, 2018, and 2020. Pearson's correlation analyses and generalized estimating equations were performed for data analyses. The frequency of participation in physical and social activities was significantly positively associated with happiness, life satisfaction, and self-rated health, and significantly negatively associated with depression. Passive activities were significantly positively associated with happiness, life satisfaction, and self-rated health but not with depression. The time effect had no significant association with any mental health outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of leisure activities in promoting mental health among older adults. Policy makers should encourage older adults to engage in physical and social leisure activities.

The Effect of Social Robots on Depression and Loneliness for Older Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES: Depression and loneliness are challenges facing older residents living in long-term care facilities. Social robots might be a solution as nonpharmacologic interventions. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of concrete forms of social robots on depression and loneliness in older residents in long-term care facilities by a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. DESIGN: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Older residents in long-term care facilities. METHODS: Six electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and CINAHL plus were searched in August 2023. Random effect models of meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and meta-regressions were performed for statistical analyses. RESULTS: After evaluation, 8 studies were selected for both qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Social robot interventions had significant positive effects on decreasing depression and loneliness with large effect sizes. Group-based robot activities had a better effect on improving depression than individual-based robot activities. Longer durations of interventions produced significantly more improvement in depression. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION: Social robots with physical manifestation provide the opportunity for older adults' social engagement and interactions with robots and others. Social robot interventions are recommended for older residents in long-term care facilities to promote psychosocial well-being in daily care routines.