Influence of Physical Activities on Stress Reduction among Third University Studentes

journal article - other

English

The aim of the work was to identify the effect of physical activities on the reduction of stress in the elderly who regularly attend the lessons of physical exercises and point out the positive effects of this exercises. Methods. The research file consisted of a total of 202 elderly people aged 64 to 78 years.102 of them regularly exerised in the framework of the program of Motion studies for the elderly organised by the University of third age of VUT in Brno and other 100 seniors dont study and none of them regularly did exercise. The level of stress was measured using the Test of stress (Selye, 1993, Křivohlavý, 2001) and we looked for differences in the level of stress among seniors, who exercise on a regular basis and between seniors who didnt exercise. We compared the dependence on the age, , the time spent in retirement and on each of the physiological difficulties which are stress related. We used the Pearson correlation coefficient and the substantive evaluation for statistical evaluation of the obtained data. Results. From the obtained results, it is apparent that the seniors who attend regularly the Motion studio, showed less stress, than seniors with no physical activities. They have less level in the zone of moderate stress on average of 4,5 points (men reported slightly higher stress level – 5 points, than women – 4 points). Non-exercising seniors are moving in the zone of middle(medium) stress in average of 8.1 point (men are reporting again the higher levels of the stress – 8.3 point, than women – 7.9 points). We found, that the time spent in retirement doesnt statistically significantly affect the level of stress among the elderly (0,05 % significance level). The results indicated that the main stressors in old age are primarily physiological factors. They participate in the level of quality of life and often cause protracted diseases, particularly diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The time spent in retirement does not statistically significantly affect the level of stress of the elderly. Non-exercising seniors , who reported higher levels of stress, complain more about the cardiovascular problems, problems with loss of appetite and neurological problems. Summary. The research has shown that seniors who regularly engaged in physical activities are less stressed than non-exercising seniors.

seniors, health, quality of life, stress, physical activities

BLAHUTKOVÁ, M.; NOVÁKOVÁ, S.; LEPKOVÁ, H.

14. 12. 2016

Akademia im. Jana Dlugosza w Czestochowie

Czestochowia, Polsko

1895-8680

Kultura Fizyczna Prace Naukowe Akademii im. Jana Dlugosza w Czestochowie

XV

4

Republic of Poland

183

193

11

http://www.wp.adj.czest.pl/kultura-fyzyczna