Abstract
Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of exercise on the mental health problems of older women. Design/methodology/approach -The paper is based on information from academic literature, government publications and publications from other relevant bodies. It is a scoping study and is not a systematic review because of the constraints of the resources. Findings -There is growing evidence about the value of exercise for the mental health of older women but few evaluated examples of how this can be achieved. Research limitations/implications -There is a gap in the literature about this topic with few evaluated examples of how more older women can be encouraged to take more exercise. Practical implications - Policy makers, practitioners and older people themselves would gain from a greater emphasis on exercise as a means of improving quality of life and for reducing healthcare budgets through fewer referrals to services. Social implications - Greater emphasis on exercise for older women would increase their quality of life through a reduction in mental health problems. Originality/value -There is limited research which links mental health, exercise and older women, especially regarding the barriers to exercise that older women with diagnosed mental health problems may face.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 93-103 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | QUALITY IN AGEING |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Exercise
- Mental health
- Mental illness
- Older women
- Physical activity
- Wellbeing
