Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under CC BY-NC 4.0 license
Authors
1 Ph.D Student of University of Tehran(Kish International Campus)
2 M.SC Azad University of Garmsar
Abstract
This study attempted to evaluate the effect of engagement with physical activity
on happiness of elderly men and women in Tehran city. The study population
included all the elderly in 22 regions of Tehran city and 400 subjects were selected
by multistage cluster sampling method as the sample of the study. To discriminate
active from inactive elderly subjects, Sharkey Physical Activity Questionnaire and
to determine the amount of their happiness, Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI)
was used. The reliability and validity of the questionnaires were confirmed. All
participants were more than 60 years old and had no psychological and physical
disorders. After the questionnaires had been distributed and then collected and the
raw data had been classified, SPSS13 software was used to analyze the data. The
results of MANOVA at (P<0.0071) showed that active subjects significantly gained
higher scores in all the happiness subscales such as life satisfaction, joy, selfesteem,
control, efficiency, calmness and totally happiness than inactive subjects
while gender and interaction of gender and activity level did not have any
significant effect on happiness. Therefore, it can be stated that one of the factors
influencing happiness in the elderly is physical activity.
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