The Effect of Physical Activity on Body Constitution and Psychological Health in Older Adults: Evidence From an Analysis of a Biobank Research Database

in Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

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Ping-Ho ChenDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Su-Chen FangDepartment of Nursing, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

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Szu-Ying LeeDepartment of Nursing, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

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Wan-Ling LinDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Shu-Feng TsaiDepartment of Nursing, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

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Sheng-Miauh HuangDepartment of Nursing, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2022-0195
Keywords:
anxiety; Chinese medicine; depression
First Published Online:
21 Nov 2022
In Print:
Ahead of Print
Page Range:
1–9
Restricted access

This study aims to describe the relationship between physical activity, suboptimal health status based on traditional Chinese medicine, and psychological health in older people in Taiwan. A total of 4,497 older individuals were selected from the Taiwan Biobank Research Database. Suboptimal health status was assessed using a body constitution questionnaire to measure yang deficiency, yin deficiency, and stasis. The results showed that older adults involved in physical activity had a lower likelihood of yang/yin deficiency and stasis constitutions than physically inactive people. Participants with yang deficiency or stasis constitutions had a higher likelihood of poor psychological health, whereas those with yin deficiency had a greater likelihood of depression. People involved in physical activity had a lower likelihood of depression than physically inactive people. Compared with male older adults, females had a lower percentage of physical activity habits, poorer body constitutions, and poorer psychological health.

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Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

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