Identifier

etd-09082005-141156

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to identify group differences in physical function and HRQL between older adults living in different environments, and to compare information from these groups to data from a random sample of elders pulled from the general population. METHODS: Seventy-eight older adults were evaluated for physical function using the continuous-scale physical functional performance test (CS-PFP) and HRQL using the SF-36 v.2. Subjects were 26 predominantly African American participants (LOW group; age 72.2 ± 8.1 years), 26 Caucasian adults (HIGH group; age 77.6 ± 4.8 years), and 26 adults selected from a population-based study (POP group; age 73.4 ± 6.4 years). RESULTS: MANCOVA (age as a covariate) revealed group differences in physical function and HRQL. Follow-up LSD comparisons revealed that the LOW group had greater upper body strength compared to both the HIGH and POP groups (61.2 ± 3.7 vs. 43.6 ± 3.6 and 35.4 ± 3.6, respectively), and greater lower body strength (42.2 ± 3.3 vs. 36.5 ± 3.6) and total CS-PFP score (55.5 ± 3.5 vs. 44.4 ± 3.4) than POP. With respect to HRQL, the POP group had poorer SF-36 role physical (RP), physical function (PF), and physical component subscale (PCS) scores than the LOW and HIGH groups (PF: POP = 53.3 ± 5.8, LOW = 76.6 ± 5.3, HIGH = 75.5 ± 5.4; RP: POP = 56.6 ± 6.9, LOW = 80.9 ± 6.4, HIGH = 85.8 ± 6.4; PCS: POP = 38.3 ± 2.1, LOW = 49.6 ± 2.0, HIGH = 48.0 ± 2.0). The LOW had poorer mental health (MH) and mental component subscale (MCS) scores than the HIGH and POP groups (MH: LOW = 69.2 ± 2.6, HIGH = 88.4 ± 2.6, POP = 85.1 ± 2.6; MCS: LOW = 51.5 ± 1.4, HIGH = 57.7 ± 1.5, POP = 58.2 ± 1.6). CONCLUSION: These findings are consistent with the theory that environmental press may interact with functional ability to impact HRQL. Supported by the National Institute on Aging [P01 (AG022064091A1)] and the Louisiana Board of Regents through the Millennium Trust Health Excellence Fund [HEF (2001-06)02].

Date

2005

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Robert Wood

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.7

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