Satisfaction with Life and Nutritional Behaviour, Body Composition, and Functional Fitness of Women from the Kraków Population Participating in the “Healthy Active Senior” Programme

Maria Gacek (), Agnieszka Wojtowicz, Grażyna Kosiba, Magdalena Majer, Joanna Gradek, Agnieszka Koteja () and Olga Czerwińska-Ledwig
Additional contact information
Maria Gacek: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Wojtowicz: Institute of Social Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Grażyna Kosiba: Institute of Social Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Magdalena Majer: Institute of Social Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Joanna Gradek: Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Agnieszka Koteja: Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Olga Czerwińska-Ledwig: Institute of Basic Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Pro-health behaviours are related to a person’s personal resources. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between satisfaction with life (SWL), nutritional behaviours, somatic indices, and functional efficiency of senior women. The research was conducted among 120 women aged 60–84 (Me = 65) participating in the “Healthy Active Senior” project at the University of Physical Education in Kraków. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the proprietary validated questionnaire of nutritional behaviour were used. Body composition was assessed using the method of bioelectrical impedance (TANITA SC-330ST analyser), while physical fitness was evaluated via the Senior Fitness test (Fullerton Functional Fitness Test). Correlations between the variables were measured by implementing Spearman’s R signed-rank correlation coefficients (with p < 0.05). Positive correlations between SWL and selected nutrition behaviours have been demonstrated, including eating 5–6 meals ( p < 0.001) and drinking at least 2 litres of fluids a day ( p = 0.023), consuming cereal products daily, including whole-grains ( p = 0.001), avoiding alcoholic beverages ( p = 0.030), and applying vitamin D supplementation ( p = 0.010). At the same time, negative correlations between SWL and limiting the consumption of red as well as processed meats ( p = 0.002), animal fats ( p = 0.046), and the preference for vegetable oils in one’s diet ( p = 0.023) were shown. Significant correlations between satisfaction with life and two indicators of functional fitness were also confirmed: negative—with the variable ‘2.44-m Get-Up and Go’ ( p = 0.003); and positive—with the ‘2-Minute Step in Place’ test ( p = 0.034). The relationships between SWL and somatic indices did not reach the level of statistical significance. Among the women participating in the “Healthy Active Senior” programme, correlations between SWL and rational nutritional behaviours, as well as indices of functional fitness, were found (mostly positive), while the trends in these areas were not fully unambiguous, suggesting the validity of conducting further research.

Keywords: senior women; satisfaction with life; nutritional behaviours; somatic indices; functional fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/1877/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/1877/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1877-:d:1041388

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().