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. 2020 Mar;39(3):301-310.
doi: 10.1177/0733464818807820. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

Reducing Isolation and Loneliness Through Membership in a Fitness Program for Older Adults: Implications for Health

Samantha Brady  1 , Lisa A D'Ambrosio  1 , Adam Felts  1 , Elizabeth Y Rula  2 , Kenneth P Kell  2 , Joseph F Coughlin  1
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Reducing Isolation and Loneliness Through Membership in a Fitness Program for Older Adults: Implications for Health

Samantha Brady et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the effects of membership in a fitness program for older adults on social isolation, loneliness, and health. Method: Using survey responses from SilverSneakers members and matched nonmembers, regression path analysis was used to examine the influence of SilverSneakers membership on physical activity, social isolation, loneliness, and health, and the interrelationships among these concepts. Results: SilverSneakers membership directly increased physical activity and self-rated health, directly decreased social isolation, and indirectly decreased loneliness. Decreased social isolation and loneliness were associated with better self-rated health: social isolation and loneliness had independent direct effects on health, while social isolation also had an indirect effect on health mediated through loneliness. Discussion: Members of SilverSneakers experienced better health through increased physical activity, reduced social isolation, and reduced loneliness. Future research should explore independent effects of social isolation and loneliness on health and the mechanisms by which membership reduces social isolation and loneliness.

Keywords: group membership; loneliness; older adults; physical activity; social isolation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Drs. Rula and Kell are employees of Tivity Health, Inc., the provider of SilverSneakers, and own stock in the company. Dr. Coughlin is a member of the AARP Board of Directors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Final path model of SilverSneakers membership on physical activity, social isolation, loneliness, and health. Note. Path coefficients are standardized values; all path coefficients are statistically significant at p < .05, N = 3,143.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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