The study of socio-economic status, living conditions, and urban-rural discrepancy with functional fitness among the elderly in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Hong, Chia-Ching, 洪佳沁
• Other Authors: Lai, Cheng-Hsiu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/97610442291962412404

碩士 === 臺北市立大學 === 運動健康科學系碩士班 === 104 === Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between functional fitness with socio-economic status, living conditions, and urban-rural differences among the elderly in Taiwan. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study by using the data derived from the National Physical Fitness Examination Survey in Taiwan (HPFEST). A total of 25,154 health elderly aged 65 years and older participated in this study between September 2014 and March 2015. Independent variables included socio-economic status (levels of education and monthly income), living conditions (marital status and living arrangement), and urban-rural differences. The functional fitness was assessed by five components: aerobic endurance (2-minute step test), muscle strength and endurance (30-second arm curl and 30-second chair stand tests), flexibility (back scratch and chair sit-and-reach tests), body composition (body mass index [BMI] and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]), and balance (one-leg stance with eye opens and 8-foot up-and-go tests). Independent-sample t test and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze continuous variables, and chi-square was used for the analysis of categorical variables. Multiple linear regression analysis with each measurement of functions fitness as the dependent variable was used to examine the associations between socio-economic status, living conditions and urban-rural differences with functional fitness performance after controlling for potential confounders. Results: After controlling for potential confounders, this study found a positive association of educational and income levels with functional fitness performance (educational levels: aerobic endurance, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition and balance; income levels: aerobic endurance and muscle strength and endurance). Those who were married did significantly better than those unmarried, divorced, separated and widowed in aerobic endurance, upper body flexibility, balance and BMI. Those who were not living alone significantly did better than those living alone on lower body muscle strength and endurance and dynamic balance. Those who lived in urban areas significantly did better than those in rural areas on aerobic endurance, flexibility, body composition and balance. Conclusions: This study found associations of socio-economic status, living conditions and urban-rural with functional fitness performance in the elderly.