Habitual physical activity and quality of life of elderly women with low socioeconomic status

Abstract

This study had the purpose of analyzing the relationship between physical activity level and the quality of life (QOL) of elderly women of low socioeconomic status. The randomly selected sample was composed by 265 women from 60 to 96 years old. Data collection used an individual multidimensional interview. Statistical data analyses included descriptive statistics and inferential procedures as well as the Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression (p ≤ 0.05). The results indicated that the most negative perception of QOL was related to the environment domain and that the older elders presented a more optimist perception in that domain when compared to the younger elders. The elderly showed a satisfactory physical activity level. It was identified a relationship between the physical dimension and the total QOL index.