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. 2023 Oct 8;20(19):6897.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20196897.

The Protective Role of Group Activity Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine on the Relation between Loneliness and Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic

Adi Vitman Schorr  1 , Itamar Yehuda  1   2 , Ron Mor  3
Affiliations

The Protective Role of Group Activity Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine on the Relation between Loneliness and Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic

Adi Vitman Schorr et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Studies of aging have suggested that QoL is positively associated with active social contacts and supportive face to face social networks. However, social networks and contacts in later life decrease due to a variety of reasons; the narrowing of social networks contributes to increased social isolation and loneliness and leads to the deterioration of well-being and QoL among adult persons. The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between loneliness feelings and QoL during the COVID-19 quarantine as potentially moderated by group physical activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine.

Methods: A convenience sample of 99 older adults aged 60 and over was interviewed. Using bootstrapping, we tested the strength and significance of the conditional moderation effect of group physical activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine on the relationship between loneliness feelings and QoL during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Results: the results demonstrated a direct negative effect between loneliness feelings and QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the relationship was moderated by group physical activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine (p = 0.000).

Conclusion: the findings indicate that policy makers and professionals working with older adults should seek ways to attract older adults to participate in group physical activity and enjoy its long-term social benefits.

Keywords: loneliness feelings; older adults; physical activity; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Research model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship between feelings of loneliness during the COVID-19 quarantine and quality of life during the COVID-19 quarantine at different levels of physical group activity prior to the COVID-19 quarantine (below average, average, above average), controlling for covariates.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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