Relationship between well-being, cognitive decline, coping with stress, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in older people in a city in northern Chile

Authors

  • Ivonne Jorquera Cáceres Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5115-9781
  • Eduardo Guzmán Muñoz Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile
  • Margarita Vega Palma Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.39.02.813.625

Keywords:

COVID-19 Pandemic, Older Adults, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Subjective Well-Being, Coping Strategies, Coping Skills, Physical Activity

Abstract

Objective: To determine if there is a relation between coping measures, level of physical activity and well-being o folder people with mild cognitive decline compared to people without cognitive decline in a COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study that included 65 elderly people living in the community of Arica. Their cognitive performance was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), their stress coping strategies were measured with the Multidimensional Coping Estimation Inventory (COPE-28), their physical activity levels with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and their psychosocial well-being using the GHQ12 general health questionnaire.

Results: Four variables were related with low well-being: being female (B=-1,833; p=0,0495); younger age (B=-0,175; p=0,0305); using coping block mostly (B=0,706; p=0); and use cognitive coping less (B=-0,436; p=0,001). In addition, there was a significant relation between poorer well-being and fewer METS in the moderate physical activity group (p 0,022).

Conclusion: The highest prevalence of low well-being was observed in female participants with les physical activity and who use coping blocking as a strategy during periods of stress. These results indicate that is vital to ensure that older people remain active, and maintain adequate coping measures, to be more resilient during a crisis.

Author Biographies

Ivonne Jorquera Cáceres, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile

Kinesióloga Licenciada en Rehabilitación, Universidad de Tarapacá (Chile). Magíster en Educación de la misma universidad. Docente e investigadora Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás (Chile). Académica asociada a Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Gerontología (CIGAP), Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás (Chile) y Núcleo de Investigación en Kinesiología (NIK), Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás (Chile). Ivonnejorquera@santotomas.cl.  Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5115-9781.

Eduardo Guzmán Muñoz, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile

Kinesiólogo, Universidad de Talca (Chile). Magíster en Ciencias de la Salud y Deporte, Universidad Finis Terrae (Chile).Doctor en Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Universidad Católica del Maule (Chile).  Académico e Investigador Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile. Académico asociado a Núcleo de Investigación en Kinesiología (NIK), Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás (Chile).  eguzmanm@santotomas.cl. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7001-9004.

Margarita Vega Palma, Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile

Profesora de inglés, Licenciada en Educación, Universidad de Tarapacá (Chile).  Magíster en Educación, con Mención en Gestión Inclusiva, Universidad Santo Tomás, Arica  (Chile).  Docente Dirección Formación General, Universidad Santo Tomás (Chile). margaritavega@santotomas.cl .  Orcid: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0002-3661-5301

Published

2023-09-18

How to Cite

Jorquera Cáceres, I., Guzmán Muñoz, E. ., & Vega Palma, M. . (2023). Relationship between well-being, cognitive decline, coping with stress, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in older people in a city in northern Chile. Salud Uninorte, 39(2), 535–550. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.39.02.813.625

Issue

Section

Original Article