Document Type : Original article
Authors
1
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, occupational therapy department,, in front of Bou Ali hospital, Damavand street, Imam Hossein square, Tehran, Iran
2
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences,, occupational Therapy department, in front of Bou Ali hospital, Damavand street, Imam Hossein square, Tehran, Iran
3
PhD, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy department, in front of Bou Ali hospital, Damavand street, Imam Hossein square, Tehran, Iran
10.22037/sjrm.2024.117286.3264
Abstract
Introduction and objectives: Volunteering refers to any activity to which free time is allocated in the interest of another person, group, or organization. Since volunteering is culture-based and no study has been conducted so far in Iran related to comparison of cognitive function and physical fitness based on participation in volunteering in the community dwelling older adults, for this reason, the present study was conducted to comparison of cognitive function and physical fitness in the community dwelling older adults with and without participation in volunteering.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 296 retired community-dwelling older adults over age 60 filled out the questionnaires voluntarily; among them, 147 people participated in volunteering. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess cognitive functioning, and the Short-Form 36 (SF36) Health Survey and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were completed by the participants to assess their physical fitness; their participation in volunteering and their demographic information were also assessed using the Demographic Information Questionnaire.
Result: The study results indicated that the cognitive functioning (r=0.367, P<0.001, U=0.6316) and physical fitness (r=0.189, P=0.001, 2.8582) of the older adults participating in volunteering were significantly higher than those not participating in volunteering; this relationship was stronger for females than for males (p<0.05) and also for those with a higher education level (p<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the older adults who actively participate in volunteering will probably have better physical fitness, quality of life and cognitive function. Therefore, it is recommended to develop interventions based on volunteering to improve the cognitive function, physical fitness and quality of life of the community dwelling older adults.
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