SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTION OF THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OLDER WOMEN WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISTRESS

Depressive symptoms among older adults are the second leading cause of disability and functional decline. Physical activity has gained considerable attention for its benefits in preventing and treating depressive symptoms. The majority of existing studies are quantitative in nature, but qualitative research into how people with depressive symptoms view physical activity in relation to their mental health is insufficient. We recruited 23 female participants from a recreational center in Ljubljana to participate in semi-structured interviews. Our aim was to identify how physical activity influences everyday life and its perceived effect on mental health among our participants. We used mixed methods, with an accent on qualitative methods. Conventional content analysis was used to explore the data from the interviews. We identified that increased satisfaction, well-being, and improved physical health are key factors through which participants find physical activity useful in stress and depression management. We can conclude that intentional physical activity in the form of walking, running, cycling, or group or individual workouts has a positive impact on physical and psychological wellbeing and has a positive impact on a person's life. Our findings can be used in future studies to assess any successful non-pharmacological treatments for depression symptoms, such as different exercise programs, support groups, or different social activities.