Participation in community intervention programmes and quality of life: findings from a multicenter study in Portugal

Abstract

Objective:

The present study aimed to analyze quality of life (QoL) in participants of community intervention programs (CIP) focused on healthy aging.

Method

: A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out with 304 community-dwelling participants, aged 55 years old or more and living in three locations in Portugal. Half of these individuals (n=152) were involved in a CIP (intervention group). The intervention group was paired according to sex and age group with an equivalent number of participants (n=152) that did not take part in a CIP (comparison group). Activities implemented in the CIP were grouped according to their nature: socio-recreational, educational/lifelong learning and physical activity. Data collection involved a Social Participation Questionnaire, the WHOQOL-Bref and the Satisfaction With Life Scale.

Results:

The CIP participants (n=152) had a mean age of 71.4 years (±5.4), were predominantly women (75.0%), married (65.4%), with fewer than five years of education (71.7%) and a monthly family income of up to 750 euros (47.4%). The intervention group had a significantly higher QoL in the physical domain than the comparison group (p<0.03). Physical activity was the most frequently attended session in the CIP (n=119, 78.3%), in comparison with educational/lifelong learning (n=46, 30.3%) and socio-recreational (n=25, 16.4%) activities. People practicing physical activity in the CIP had a significantly higher QoL in the psychological, social relationships and environment domains (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Participation in the CIP was associated with QoL. Therefore, in line with the active aging framework, CIPs must be a part of public policy measures aimed at the QoL of the population.

Keywords:
Healthy Aging; Social Participation; Quality of Life; Health of the Elderly; Program Evaluation

Resumo

Objetivo:

Analisar a qualidade de vida (QV) em indivíduos que participam de programas de intervenção comunitária (PIC) orientados para uma vida ativa e saudável.

Método:

Estudo transversal multicêntrico com 304 participantes, com 55 anos ou mais de idade, a viver na comunidade em três localidades portuguesas. Metade desses indivíduos (n=152) envolvida em PIC (grupo de intervenção). Esse grupo foi emparelhado segundo sexo e grupo etário com número equivalente de participantes (n=152) que não frequenta PIC (grupo de comparação). As atividades dos PIC foram agrupadas segundo a sua natureza: sociorrecreativas, educativas/aprendizagem ao longo da vida (ALV) e atividade física. Recolheu-se informação usando Questionário de Participação Social, WHOQOL-Bref e Escala de Satisfação com a Vida.

Resultados:

Os participantes dos PIC tinham média de idade de 71,4 (±5,4) anos, eram predominantemente mulheres (75,0%), casados (65,4%), com escolaridade inferior a cinco anos (71,7%) e rendimento familiar mensal até 750 euros (47,4%). O GI apresentou melhor QV no domínio físico do que o GC (p<0,03). A atividade física foi a modalidade mais frequentada nos PIC (n=119; 78,3%) em comparação com atividades educativas/ALV (n=46; 30,3%) e sociorrecreativas (n=25; 16,4%). Os praticantes de atividade física em PIC apresentaram melhor QV nos domínios psicológico, relações sociais e ambiente do que os não praticantes (p<0,05).

Conclusão:

A participação em PIC está associada à QV pelo que, em linha com o quadro do envelhecimento ativo, se recomenda implementar PIC no âmbito das políticas públicas, promovendo sistematicamente a QV da população.

Palavras-chave:
Envelhecimento Saudável; Participação Social; Qualidade de Vida; Saúde do Idoso; Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde

INTRODUCTION

Due to their greater health vulnerability, creating opportunities for an active and healthy life is important for older people¹. In line with previous studies², aging is a dynamic process that occurs throughout life through a personal-context interrelationship. Several theoretical models have emphasized the importance of social participation and involvement in a healthy or successful aging (SA) process. For Rowe and Kahn^3-5 active involvement with life is one of the three components of a SA, which also includes cultivating close interpersonal relationships and engaging in meaningful and purposeful activities. More recently, these authors⁵ advocated for enhancing the skills and productive potential of older people, as well as creating opportunities for them to assume new social roles and responsibilities.

The Selective Optimization With Compensation model^6,7, meanwhile, perceives the individual as possessing self-regulatory mechanisms. Considering intraindividual plasticity and interpersonal variability in aging, Baltes and Baltes⁶ recommend strengthening reserve capacities through education, motivation, health promotion and social support. Better reserves (physical, mental and/or social) increase the likelihood of aging well.

In turn, the Preventive and Corrective Proactivity (PCP)^8-10 model associates aging with increased stress, recognizing an individual’s ability to actively and effectively deal with age-related challenges. In line with Baltes⁶, this model emphasizes the importance of proactive self-regulation mechanisms, presenting the concepts of proactive preventive and corrective adaptations, including social behaviors (eg, helping others, mobilizing support, replacing roles). In keeping with Rowe and Kahn³, the PCP model highlights the maintenance of valued activities and relationships. In fact, the older adults themselves consider proactive involvement and interpersonal relationships as important factors in enjoying a SA¹¹.

The importance of being socially involved also appears in the profile of active aging (AA)^12,13, with participation one of its four pillars. The ability to participate depends on health status and at the same time is central to health promotion, purpose in life and positive social relationships. Thus, it is recognized that being socially involved influences quality of life (QoL). As such, policy measures need to be devised to provide opportunities for such involvement.

Despite the number of theories built around social participation, the concept is diffuse and lacks consensus, hindering communication between researchers, the creation of standardized measuring instruments and the comparability of research results^14,15. For Scharlach and Lehning¹⁶, and in line with SA models, social involvement includes two subcomponents: social contact (personal relationships, social support) and social participation (meaningful social activities). Despite the aforementioned conceptual vagueness, there is a tendency to analyze the relationship between social participation and QoL as an indicator of successful aging. QoL is defined as individuals’ subjective perceptions of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns¹⁷. There is evidence that participating in different social activities favors health-related QoL in the general population¹⁸ and specifically in the older population¹⁹.

Studies show that older adults who participate in social groups have significantly higher QoL than non-participants, namely in the physical, environmental and social relations domains of the WHOQoL-Bref and in the past/present/future activities, intimacy and social participation facets of the WHOQoL-OLD^20,21. Longitudinal studies show that participating in social activities leads to better QoL^22,23, life satisfaction and self-esteem²⁴ and reduces depressive symptoms^23,24 in older adults. Moreover, this relationship seems to intensify with advancing age^22,25 and is stronger in older than younger people¹⁸. In a systematic review, Adams et al.²⁶ found that several types of activity generate benefits in aging, highlighting social activities that can reduce the risk of social isolation, favor social and emotional support and social roles, among others. In turn, physical activity is associated with better QoL^27-29, and its benefits go beyond the exercise itself, encompassing the social dimension, strengthening ties and occupying a relevant role in community life^28,30.

In summary, while theory, research and policy indicate the relevance of social participation in the QoL and well-being of the older population, most relevant studies lack a comparison group. Based on the assumption that being socially involved brings gains in QoL and well-being, the present study aimed to compare the QoL of individuals participating in successful and healthy aging public community intervention programs (CIPs) with individuals who did not participate in such programs.

METHOD

The present study is part of a multi-center and multi-method research project (Aging, social participation and the early detection of dependence: skills for the Fourth Age (AgeNORTC)) carried out in three territories of Northern and Central Portugal (Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa), involving Higher Education Institutions which provide education and training in Gerontology and Municipal Councils.

A comparative quantitative cross-sectional study that aimed to establish the baseline for analyzing changes in the aging process was performed. In this study of local public policy, social participation is understood to be systematic involvement in community initiatives - herein known as Community Intervention Programs (CIPs) - aimed at promoting active and successful aging. CIPs guide the operationalization of the AgeNORTC project, constituting the raw material for assessing the social participation/involvement of older people and its relationship with quality of life.

The present study included 152 participants involved in CIPs (50 per site) aged 55 to 84 years and living in the community, who formed the intervention group (IG) - the group under investigation. As this was a community-based study and randomly selecting participants on the basis of CIP registrants was impossible, the sample was selected via key partners (eg parish councils and associations) and direct contact with older people taking part in the CIP. For its part, the comparison group (CG; n=50 by location), paired with the previous group in terms of gender and age group, was selected through the family and neighborhood networks of participants, as well as key partners (eg municipal and parish councils, associations). Individuals who, although participating in CIPs, lived in care facilities for older adults were excluded. As an exploratory study it was thought important to detect an average difference in quality of life between pairs of 5% (range 0-100%), although there was no indication of variability. Assuming a standard deviation of between 15% and 20%, a sample of 50 pairs per site can detect this difference with a power greater than 85%.

For data collection, a multidimensional gerontological evaluation protocol was used. The authors prepared a Sociodemographic and Social Participation Questionnaire with two sections: (1) sociodemographic aspects - 21 closed-ended questions and (2) aspects of participation in Community intervention Programs - six closed-ended questions.

Quality of life was assessed using the Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-Bref)³¹. This instrument consists of 26 items, with five-point Likert-type response scales. The first two items assess overall quality of life (overall QoL) while the remainder are organized into four domains (Physical, Psychological, Social Relations and Environment). There is no overall instrument score. As recommended, the raw scores were converted to a 0-100 scale, with higher values indicating a better perception of quality of life. The Portuguese version of the WHOQoL-Bref³¹ has high reliability values (α=0.92), with domains or facets ranging from a minimum of 0.64 (social relations domain) to 0.87 (physical domain). Regarding validity, the authors of the Portuguese version consider that it effectively discriminates people from the normal population from those with associated medical pathologies, both at the domain and general QoL level. These values are in line with those of the original version¹⁷.

Well-being was also assessed using the Portuguese version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)³². This scale provides access to participants’ overall appreciation of their life, focusing on the judgement of the individual rather than a priori criteria. It consists of five items, with a seven point Likert type response scale. The higher the final score (0-35), the greater the degree of satisfaction with life. The Portuguese version has good internal consistency (α=0.78) and good validity indicators, namely significant correlations with self-efficacy, self-concept, psychological maturity and social anxiety. These values are in line with the original version.

Information about the CIPs (Table 1) was collected through document analysis of reports and other written sources produced by local authorities.

Chart 1
Description of community intervention programs. Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal, 2018.

	Program	Target population	Description and Overall Goal	Operation
Viana do Castelo	Quality Aging (2005)	County population aged 60+ and/or retired and pensioners (500 registered)	Recreational, cultural and leisure activities that facilitate older adults’ access to participation in community life in order to promote active aging, quality of life and well-being.	Activities once a week, based on an annual plan that includes dances, cinema, theater, workshops, medicinal and aromatic plant gardens, lectures, among others.
	Beat Aging through Health (2007)	County population aged 60+ and/or retired and pensioners (621 registered)	Recreational activities dedicated to leisure and access to regular exercise. The goals are to improve health rates, promote well-being and broaden social interaction.	Activities twice a week (45min); an indoor gym session and a water aerobics session. November to June.
Bragança	Sport for Rural Seniors (2010)	Rural population of county aged 60+ and/or retired and pensioners (200 registered)	Recreational, cultural and leisure activities that facilitate older adults' access to participation in community life in order to promote active aging, quality of life and well-being.	Gymnastic activities in the gym once a week in adherent villages and water aerobics once a month in the municipal swimming pool. September to May.
	Active Bragança (2018)	County population aged 60+ years old and/or retired and pensioners (120 registered)	Recreational, cultural and leisure activities that facilitate older adults' access to participation in community life in order to promote active aging, quality of life and well-being.	Fitness activities twice a week in the municipal pavilion and water aerobics once a week in the municipal pool. September to May.
Coimbra/Condeixa	Reading, Words and Company (2014)	Adult and senior population of county (20 registered)	Social and recreational activities (living through reading, dissemination of knowledge, appreciation of heritage), aimed at promoting social interaction in the community.	Biweekly activities (2h30m). January to December (except August).
	Senior IT (2013)	County population aged 65+ (10 registered)	Activities to promote autonomy in the use of computers, facilitating social contacts (including via distance) and more enjoyable and sociable leisure time.	Activities twice a week (2h). Courses from two to three months. September to December and January to March.
	Senior Mobility (2007)	County population aged 65+ and retired/pensioners (276 registered)	Play-sport activities aimed at promoting well-being and health. Includes sports fitness, therapeutic fitness and water aerobics.	Fitness once a week; water aerobics twice a week (1h each). All year except August.
	Intergenerational Workshops (2016)	Entire population of county (85 registered)	Recreational and social activities (eg restoration, painting, sewing). Aims to promote socializing and intergenerationality and reduce social isolation.	Activities once a week (3h), from January to December with break in mid-July and August.
	Words For Life (2015)	County, adult and senior population (55 registered)	Project that promotes literacy through literacy workshops. In 2017, inspired the Computers for Life program (digital literacy). They aim to promote skills, social inclusion and self-esteem.	Computers For Life once a week (2h) Words for Life once a week, from October to December and from March to June.

Table 1
Sociodemographic characterization of participants. Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal, 2018.

Sociodemographic characteristics	IG (n=152)	CG (n=152)	p
	n (%)	n (%)
Age - mean (standard-deviation)	71.4 (±5.4)	71.6 (±6.1)	0.624
55-64	12 (7.9)	12 (7.9)
65-74	96 (63.2)	96 (63.2)
75-84	44 (28.9)	44 (28.9)
Sex			1
Female	114 (75.0)	114 (75.0)
Male	38 (25.0)	38 (25.0)
Marital Status			0.566
Single	7 (4.6)	5 (3.3)
Married/Civil Partnership	98 (64.5)	106 (69.7)
Separated/Divorced	8 (5.3)	4 (2.6)
Widowed	39 (25.7)	37 (24.3)
Schooling (years)			0.197
No schooling	2 (1.3)	5 (3.3)
1st-4th	107 (70.4)	102 (67.1)
5th-6th	16 (10.5)	7 (4.6)
7th-9th	7 (4.6)	13 (8.6)
10th-12th	13 (8.6)	17 (11.2)
Higher education	7 (4.6)	8 (5.3)
Professional status			0.002
Employed	4 (2.7)	18 (12.2)
Unemployed	7 (4.8)	2 (1.4)
Retired	136 (92.5)	127 (86.4)
Professional sector			0.649
Primary	25 (16.4)	23 (15.1)
Secondary	35 (23.0)	33 (21.7)
Tertiary	73 (48.0)	69 (45.4)
Domestic	19 (12.5)	27 (17.8)
Monthly Income			0.056
Below €250	7 (4.6)	3 (2.0)
From €250 to €420	25 (16.6)	23 (15.4)
From €421 to €750	40 (26.5)	44 (29.5)
From €751 to €1000	37 (24.5)	25 (16.8)
From €1001 to €2000	32 (21.2)	29 (19.5)
Over €2000	10 (6.6)	25 (16.8)
Lives with
Spouse	94 (61.8)	104 (68.5)	0.208
Alone	42 (27.6)	29 (19.1)
Others	16 (10.5)	19 (12.5)
Sons/Daughters	138 (92.6)	142 (93.4)	0.784

• IG: intervention group; CG: comparison group.

Data collection was carried out by researchers and research fellows (n=9) with the collaboration of undergraduate and masters students in Social Gerontology (n=9) from the three Higher Education Institutions involved in the project. The entire team underwent previous training. The data collection protocol was administered at previously agreed sites (higher education institutions and community membership structures) between March and April 2018.

In terms of analysis strategies, a descriptive analysis of the data was carried out in relation to the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and the variables under study. Through an initial descriptive analysis of the activities carried out in the CIP, three types were identified: (1) socio-recreational activities (dances, cinema, workshops and theater); (2) educational /lifelong learning activities (LLL) (aromatic and medicinal plant garden, literacy and computer science); and (3) physical activities (localized fitness and water aerobics). The relationships between the sociodemographic characteristics and involvement in different types of activity were explored using Chi-square tests. In order to test the effects of CIP participation on quality of life, comparative analyzes were performed with the Student’s t-test for paired samples. In order to verify if there were statistically significant differences in the quality of life and well-being of the participants in the CIPs, based on the practice of different types of activities, Student’s t-tests for independent samples were performed, comparing the practice vs. does not practice a certain type of activity groups.

In relation to ethical aspects, the present study was analyzed by the Ethics Committee of the School of Education in the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo), which issued a favorable opinion. All participants were informed about the objectives and conditions of participation in the study, having signed the respective Informed Consent Form.

RESULTS

A total of 304 participants attending a CIP formed part of this study, of which 104 lived in Viana do Castelo, 100 in Bragança and 100 in Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal. These subsamples were divided into two groups: the intervention group (IG) and the comparison group (CG).

As shown in Table 1, the participants were mostly female (75.0%) and aged 65-74 years (63.2%). However, individuals in the IG were aged between 60 and 84 years old [average=71.4 (±5.4)], while in the CG they were aged between 55 and 84 years old [average=71.6 (±6.1)].

In both groups, the participants were predominantly married (IG=64.5%; CG=69.7%); with an education of between the 1^st and 4^th years of school (IG=70.4%; CG=67.1%); were retired (IG=92.5%; CG=86.4%); had children (IG=92.6%; CG=93.4%) and lived with their spouse (IG=61.8%; CG=68.5%).

In terms of life-long professional activity, using the classification of economic activities, there is a high frequency of tertiary workers, that is, those who worked in the services (IG=48.0%; CG=45.4%). From an economic point of view, and considering that about two thirds of participants were living with others, household income was low, as about half of both groups earned up to €750 per month (IG=47.7% CG=46.9%).

Regarding quality of life and participation in the CIP, programs in three locations were analyzed: Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa. The municipal actions to promote the quality of life of the population assumes a different configuration according to location, in terms of intervention and functioning. For example, in the municipality of Bragança, the main focus of municipal policy measures is physical activities, while in Coimbra/Condeixa and Viana do Castelo the municipal intervention is more heterogeneous, and also involves activities of a socio-recreational and educational/LLL nature.

A comparative analysis of quality of life as a result of intervention group vs. comparison group (Table 2) shows that the participants in the CIP (IG) had a better quality of life in the physical domain (p<0.03) than the non-participants (CG).

Table 2
Comparison of quality of life between the group participating in community intervention programs (IG) vs. comparison group (CG). Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal, 2018.

WHOQoL-Bref	IG Mean (±sd)	CG Mean (±sd)	Dif. Mean (±sd)	t	p
Overall QoL	63.8 (±15.8)	62.7 (±19.3)	1.2 (±25.9)	0.549	0.584
Physical Domain	67.5 (±15.4)	63.5 (±16.6)	4.1 (±22.0)	2.278	0.024
Psychological Domain	71.0 (±15.2)	70.3 (±13.6)	0.4 (±20.3)	0.417	0.677
Social Relations Domain	67.5 (±16.6)	69.5 (±15.4)	-2.0 (±22.9)	-1.091	0.277
Environment Domain	68.8 (±14.2)	67.4 (±14.8)	1.4 (±17.4)	1.007	0.315

• Student’s t-test for paired samples; sd: standard-deviation; QoL: quality of life; Mean Dif.: Difference of means.

In the remaining quality of life domains, there was also a trend towards higher average values in the intervention group.

With regard to aspects of social participation in the intervention group, as shown in Table 3, localized fitness (67.1%) and water aerobics (53.3%) were the activities most carried out by the participants within the scope of the CIPs in the three territories under investigation. On average, each individual performed 1.9 (±1) activities, with 63.8% performing more than one. Regarding reasons for participating, maintaining health was most cited by respondents (66.4%), followed by occupy time (44.7%) and the opportunity to meet new people (36.2%).

Table 3
Description of activities, reasons and attendance in community intervention programs (n=152). Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal, 2018.

Aspects of participation in CIP	Participants
	n (%)
Activities performed
Socio-recreational
Dances	23 (15.1)
Cinema	4 (2.6)
Workshops	19 (12.5)
Theater	8 (5.3)
Education/LLL
Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Gardening	14 (9.2)
Literacy	1 (0.7)
Computing	18 (11.8)
Physical activity
Fitness	102 (67.1)
Water aerobics	81 (53.3)
Reason for participating
Occupy time	68 (44.7)
Meet new people	55 (36.2)
Maintain health	101 (66.4)
Practice physical activities	47 (30.9)
Participate in activities they enjoy	46 (30.3)
Attendance	147 (96.7)
Time spent in CIP (years)
Up to 1	35 (23.0)
More than 1 to 5	77 (50.7)
More than 5 to 10	32 (21.1)
More than 10	8 (5.3)

• LLL: Lifelong learning.

In terms of presence in the activities, almost all participants (96.7%) considered themselves assiduous attendees. Average attendance at the CIPs was 51.6 months (approximately four years), although there was a wide dispersion of results at this level (± 45.3 months). Most of the participants had been attending these programs for a period of more than one year and less than five years (50.7%).

Given the nature of the activities within the scope of the CIP, a greater number of people practiced physical activities than socio-recreational and educational/LLL activities. Although under different names, physical activity appeared in the programs of the three locations under investigation. It should also be noted that, in socio-recreational activities, there is a significantly higher percentage of women (p<0.05) (Table 4).

Table 4
Participation in activities of community intervention programs according to sociodemographic characteristics. Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal, 2018.

Sociodemographic characteristics	Socio-recreative activities (n=25; 16.4%)	Educational/LLL activities (n=46; 30.3%)	Physical Activity (n=119; 78.3%)
Sex
Female	92.0%	80.4%	75.6%
Male	8.0%	19.6%	24.4%
P	<0.05	0.415	0.821
Age Group (years)
55-64	0.0%	6.5%	8.4%
65-74	56.0%	63.0%	63.0%
75-84	44.0%	30.5%	28.6%
P	0.084	0.901	0.901
Marital Status
Married/Civil union	48.0%	58.7%	65.5%
Unmarried	52.0%	41.3%	34.5%
P	0.070	0.359	0.682
Years of Schooling
Up to 4 years	80.0%	78.3%	68.1%
5 or more years	20.0%	21.7%	31.9%
P	0.340	0.178	0.521
Professional Status
Retired	4.0%	4.5%	8.7%
Non-retired	96.0%	95.5%	91.3%
P	0.691	0.506	0.457
Has Children
Yes	95.5%	95.3%	92.4%
P	1.000	0.512	1.000
Lives With Others
Yes	64.0%	69.6%	74.6%
P	0.332	0.694	0.271
Monthly Income
Up to €750	40.0%	52.2%	46.2%
More than €750	60.0%	47.8%	53.8%
P	0.513	0.482	0.694
Religion (considers oneself religious)
Yes	100.0%	100.0%	95.5%
P	0.600	0.102	1.000

• Chi-squared test.

Regarding quality of life, considering practitioners and non-practitioners of each type of activity, physical activity is the greatest differentiating factor (Table 5).

Table 5
Quality of life and well-being according to the practice of different types of activities in community intervention programs. Viana do Castelo, Bragança and Coimbra/Condeixa, Portugal, 2018.

	Socio-recreative activities		p	Educational/LLL Activities		p	Physical Activity		p
	Practices	Does not Practice		Practices	Does not Practice		Practices	Does not Practice
	n=25 M (±sd)	n=127 M (±sd)		n=46 M (±sd)	n=106 M (±sd)		n=119 M (±sd)	n=33 M (±sd)
WHOQoL-Bref
Overall QoL	64.3 (±13.9)	60.0 (±16.2)	0.094	62.8 (±13.6)	64.0 (±16.9)	0.655	63.2 (±16.2)	65.2 (±14.9)	0.542
Physical Domain	66.3 (±15.3)	67.7 (±15.4)	0.660	68.1 (±12.9)	67.3 (±16.3)	0.768	67.8 (±15.8)	66.6 (±14.0)	0.683
Psychological Domain	72.3 (±8.4)	70.8 (±16.2)	0.482	67.7 (±15.2)	72.5 (±15.1)	0.075	72.3 (±14.4)	66.4 (±17.2)	<0.05
Social Relations Domain	68.3 (±13.2)	67.3 (±17.2)	0.781	64.1 (±14.5)	68.9 (±17.2)	0.099	69.3 (±16.4)	61.1 (±15.5)	<0.05
Environment Domain	68.5 (±11.2)	68.8 (±14.7)	0.911	65.8 (±12.8)	70.1 (±14.6)	0.082	70.3 (±14.2)	63.5 (±12.9)	<0.05
Satisfaction With Life	26.9 (±5.2)	25.6 (±6.4)	0.352	24.8 (±6.4)	26.3 (±6.2)	0.179	26.7 (±5.8)	22.7 (±6.9)	<0.05

• Students T-test for independent variables; M: mean; sd: standard-deviation; QoL: quality of life.

The analysis allows the statistically significant differences resulting from the practice of physical activity by the participants of the CIP to be identified, with practitioners of this type of activity having a better quality of life in the psychological, social relations and environment (p<0.05) domains, as well better satisfaction with life (p<0.05) than non-practitioners.

DISCUSSION

The CIP participants had significantly higher quality of life values in the physical domain than non-participants. Furthermore, there was a tendency towards higher average values in the other quality of life domains (general, psychological, environment) in the CIP participant groups than in the groups that did not participate.

These results are in line with the study by Costa et al.²⁸ in which older adults attending public physical exercise programs had a better quality of life than those who did not attend such programs in all domains of the WHOQoL-Bref and WHOQOL-Old. Ferreti et al.²⁷ also drew similar conclusions. Ribeiro et al.³³, meanwhile, found that, in an urban context, physically active older adults had a better quality of life than those who were insufficiently active/sedentary. This difference was not found in the rural context, but a predominance of active people and higher levels of quality of life were found than in the urban environment, stressing that in rural areas older people benefit from the continuity of tasks related to agriculture and more opportunities for socialising.

Therefore, physical activity should be seen in a broad sense, because in addition to physical exercise, it involves the structuring of a routine and is practiced through social interaction, becoming a socializing activity. Costa et al.²⁸ underline that participation in group activities, even when aimed at physical activity, can favor social relationships, new emotional ties and feelings of significant inclusion in community life. The results also refer to the PCP model in which health promotion (eg, physical activity) and available social support appear as aspects that favor quality of life^8-10.

Regarding the CIPs, there was diversity in the initiatives made available to the population by the municipalities, namely: recreational/cultural activities, recreational-sports activities, computer workshops and literacy workshops, among others. They also varied in terms of frequency, intensity, distribution across the territory and functioning. In terms of objectives, there seems to be uniformity, notably: (1) the promotion of AA, health, quality of life and well-being; and (2) contribute to participation in community life and social inclusion. In line with the study by Bárrios and Fernandes¹, only one of the nine CIPs under analysis targets the entire population of the municipality, with the rest subjected to criteria such as age and/or the status of retired person/pensioner. These results are in keeping with systematic reviews of the topic, in which it was observed that interventions centered on AA are diverse and effective in promoting quality of life³⁴.

As for the profile of the participants in the CIP, there was a predominance of women and of the age group of 65-74 years, which is in line with Neri and Vieira³⁵, who found that being female and aged between 65 and 69 years old is associated with greater social involvement. It should be noted that some of the participants were involved in these actions for a long time, almost all consider themselves assiduous attendees and most practice more than one activity. Thus, for some, CIPs involve real commitment and involvement, constituting an important aspect of their daily lives. Continued adherence to interventions is considered an important factor for the effectiveness of programs³⁴.

Among the activities performed in the CIPs, localized fitness (eg, muscle strength work, balance) and water aerobics are the most frequently available, which reflects the predominance and scope of interventions aimed at physical activity in the territories under investigation. It should be noted that maintaining health was the most commonly stated reason for participating in the CIPs, followed by occupying time and establishing new social ties. Thus, in line with the literature and the objectives established in the CIP, the participants seem to conceive the involvement in these activities as generating benefits in quality of life. In a critical review, Adams et al.²⁶ observed that social participation influences well-being, and can do so in several ways. In participants of the CIP, a specific analysis of the type of activities performed shows significant differences between practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activity, with practitioners presenting significantly higher values of satisfaction with life and quality of life (psychological, social relations and environment domains). This means that practitioners of physical activity have a better quality of life than practitioners of other types of activities. If the Rowe and Kahn³ model is taken as a reference, effective successful aging, by being multifaceted, can be achieved through different components. The results of the present study point to the relevance of the biophysical system, but it is important to bear in mind that the body is not disconnected from psychosocial aspects, as previously mentioned.

Despite these findings, the present study has some limitations. Contrary to the initial plans, updated lists of CIP participants could not be accessed. On the other hand, although only age group and gender were used as criteria for pairing the sample, it was found that sociodemographic characteristics were very similar in both the intervention and the comparison group, such as, for example, the predominance of a low level of education and low monthly income.

It is recommended, therefore, that future studies on this theme include new sample groups with more differentiated attributes of sex, socioeconomic status and social involvement (eg, university educated older adults). As Adams et al.²⁶ point out, a better understanding of the effects of social participation on well-being requires considering dimensions such as the meaning, context and requirement of activities. These aspects were addressed in the present study, namely in identifying the motivations and duration of involvement in the programs, but it is necessary to go further. In addition, it is important to carry out a thorough analysis of the subjective experience of the aging process, using qualitative methods (provided for in this study), as well as an evolutionary analysis of the impact of social participation on the process of aging with quality, through longitudinal studies.

CONCLUSION

Participation in public community intervention programs favors quality of life, as participants had a better quality of life in the physical domain than non-participants. Participants who practiced physical activity also exhibited superior results in the physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains. Thus, to promote the quality of life of the population, the implementation of community intervention programs is recommended, in particular involving physical activities. The results also reveal the reduced participation of men, older seniors and groups with a higher socioeconomic status in these programs, aspects that researchers and policy makers must consider, especially as the impact of social participation on quality of life tends to intensify with age^22,25. A vision of aging as an ongoing process in life, with gains and losses, implies thinking about longevity through group actions, that is, through the collective life.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The AgeNortC project team would like to thank the Municipal Councils and those who participated in this study. Our thanks also extend to Dr. Liliana Parente, for her availability and collaboration in data collection.

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• Funding:

  Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia e Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (SAICT-POL/23712/2016; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-023712)

Edited by

Editd by:

Ana Carolina Lima Cavaletti

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  11 May 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  06 Feb 2019
• Accepted
  29 Aug 2019