The intervention of a Portuguese Northeastern municipality in the successful aging

• Main Authors: Maria Helena Pimentel, Hélder Jaime Fernandez, Carlos Miguel Figueiredo Afonso
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Asociación Nacional de Psicología Evolutiva y Educativa de la Infancia Adolescencia Mayores y Discapacidad 2019-11-01
• Series: INFAD
• Subjects: desporto autárquico sénior; envelhecimento bem-sucedido; qualidade de vida
• Online Access: http://www.infad.eu/RevistaINFAD/OJS/index.php/IJODAEP/article/view/1907

According to INE (2017) in the Northeast of Portugal, there is a very high aging rate, 252.7 elderly per 100 young people. Objective: to characterize a group of seniors enrolled in municipality sports programs and evaluate the effects of these programs in promoting well successful aging. Methods: 100 participants in two groups: the reference (sports registration of the municipality - Active Bragança and Superior Sport in the Rural) and the comparison (non-registration). An inquiry was applied with sociodemographic data, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); the Psychological Welfare Scale (Ryff 18); the inquiry of Selection, optimization with compensation (SOC) and quality of life scale (WHOQOL-Bref). Results: 70% female, mostly between 65-74 years (64%), average age of 70.6, 70% are married or living in union and 22.0% are widowed. More than half (51%) have only completed the fourth grade and most (68%) have between € 421 and € 2000. Examined the differences between the two groups in the MMSE the comparison group presented higher values in the global assessment (27 vs 26.2) and orientation (9.6 vs 9.2; p smaller than 0.05), also higher in Psychological Welfare (Ryff 18), with special emphasis on positive relationships (14.3 vs 13.1; p smaller than 0.05). Instead the reference group, in SOC, presents higher average values in total (8.2 vs 7.6), in the elective selection (1.5 vs 1.3), in the selected selection in the loss (2.1 vs. 2) and compensation (2.3 vs 2). It is, however, with quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) where the earnings are most reflected. The reference group presents higher mean values in the four dimensions of the scale, especially in social relations and physical health, very close to statistical significance (p smaller than 0.05). Conclusion: Municipal sports programs can leverage resources for successful aging. Also allow to mitigate differences in growth in urban and rural areas.