The Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercise on Resilience and Life Expectancy in the Older Women

Background: In recent years, the burgeoning aging population and increased life expectancy have spurred a transformation in societal attitudes towards later life and older adults. The conceptualization of “successful aging” reflects a shift in perspectives and an effort to enhance quality of life during this phase. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of aerobic exercise on resilience and life expectancy in older women.
Method: A quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and a control group. The population consisted of all women aged 65 years and older residing in Andimeshk during the first half of 2024. A sample of 30 participants (ages 65-75) was selected using purposive sampling and assigned randomly into experimental and control groups, based on pre-defined inclusion criteria. The experimental group participated in an eight-week aerobic exercise intervention, comprising three 60-minute sessions per week. Measurements in the current study included Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Schneider’s adult hope questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way ANCOVA with SPSS version 22.
Results: Findings revealed a statistically significant difference (p< .001) between the experimental and control groups in post-test scores for both resilience and life expectancy.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that aerobic exercise improves resilience and life expectancy in older women, representing novel avenues for psychological interventions. It can be recommended as an effective intervention strategy to enhance resilience and life expectancy in this population.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
 Introduction
Later life is a critical developmental stage that requires attention to the specific physical, emotional, and psychological needs of individuals. A comprehensive understanding of these needs is essential for promoting well-being and quality of life among older adults. Resilience and life expectancy are considered key psychological indicators of quality of life during this period, highlighting the importance of interventions aimed at strengthening these capacities. Regular aerobic exercise has been widely recognized as one of the most important factors in promoting physical health and enhancing psychological well-being. In particular, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has been shown to improve emotional regulation and reduce psychological distress. Aerobic exercise programs typically include activities such as cycling and treadmill walking, which are accessible and adaptable for older adults. A review of the literature indicates limited research specifically examining the impact of aerobic exercise on resilience and life expectancy among older women. Therefore, further investigation is needed to clarify the psychological benefits of aerobic exercise in this population. Given this gap, the present study was conducted to examine the effects of an aerobic exercise intervention on resilience and life expectancy in older women. It was hypothesized that (1) aerobic exercise would have a significant effect on resilience in older women, and (2) aerobic exercise would have a significant effect on life expectancy in older women.
Method
This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The study population consisted of women aged 65–75 years residing in Andimeshk during the first half of 2024. Using purposive sampling, 30 participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The sample size was determined based on methodological recommendations for experimental studies suggesting a minimum of 15 participants per group. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age 65 years or older, (2) obtaining scores below the sample mean on the resilience and life expectancy scales at pretest, and (3) having at least a secondary school diploma. Exclusion criteria included: (1) concurrent participation in other therapeutic interventions and (2) the presence of acute cognitive impairment. The mean age of participants in the experimental group was 67.1 years, while the mean age in the control group was 67.3 years. In the experimental group, 9 participants (60%) held a high school diploma, and 6 (40%) held an associate degree or higher. Similarly, in the control group, 9 participants (60%) held a high school diploma, and 6 (40%) held an associate degree or higher. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Snyder’s Adult Hope Scale (Snyder et al., 1991), which was used to assess life expectancy. The experimental group participated in an eight-week aerobic exercise program consisting of three 60-minute sessions per week. Data were analyzed using one-way ANCOVA, controlling for pretest scores. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS (Version 22).
Results
In accordance with the research design, a univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to analyze the primary outcomes. Prior to conducting the main analysis, the assumptions of ANCOVA were examined. First, the homogeneity of variances across groups at posttest was assessed using Levene’s test. The results of Levene’s test for both resilience and life expectancy were non-significant (p>.05), indicating that the assumption of homogeneity of variance was satisfied. Second, the assumption of homogeneity of regression slopes was evaluated by examining the interaction between the independent variable (group) and pretest scores for each dependent variable. The interaction effects were non-significant for both resilience and life expectancy (p>.05), confirming that this assumption was met. Additionally, the normality of the dependent variables was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. The test results were non-significant (p>.05), supporting the assumption of normal distribution. Given that all statistical assumptions were satisfied, ANCOVA was conducted to examine the effect of aerobic exercise on posttest resilience and life expectancy scores while controlling for pretest scores. The results are presented in Table 1.
The findings revealed a statistically significant difference in resilience and life expectancy between the experimental and control groups. Specifically, aerobic exercise resulted in a significant improvement in resilience and life expectancy scores in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that physical activity may induce mood-related changes in older adults through multiple physiological and psychological mechanisms. Evidence from prior research indicates that such effects may be associated with cognitive changes, dopamine release, improved cardiovascular functioning, increased cerebral blood flow, enhanced central nervous system activity, heightened neuronal activation, and subsequent improvements in subjective well-being. These physiological and psychological processes may contribute to increased activity levels, greater social engagement, and reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation. Furthermore, improved physical capability and positive changes in self-perception resulting from regular physical activity may promote enhanced mood and a more optimistic outlook. Accordingly, various forms of exercise, including stretching, walking, and running, may strengthen resilience and life expectancy in older adults by improving physical fitness, influencing cognitive and emotional appraisals, modifying physiological functioning, supporting central nervous system integrity, activating neuronal networks, and potentially modulating immune responses. However, the interpretation and generalizability of these findings should be considered in light of certain limitations. The relatively small sample size and purposive sampling approach may limit external validity. In addition, the absence of longitudinal follow-up data restricts conclusions regarding the long-term sustainability of the observed effects. Future research should employ larger samples, extended follow-up periods, and further examine the impact of aerobic exercise on additional biological and psychological indicators in older populations. Policymakers and program developers are encouraged to design structured and evidence-informed interventions aimed at enhancing resilience and life expectancy among older adults, implemented by qualified professionals.
Ethical Consideration
Ethical Code
This article is derived from the first author's Master's thesis in Personality Psychology at Azad University, Dezful Branch.
Funding
This study received no external funding.
Financial Support
This study did not receive financial support.
Authors’ Contributions
K.J: Conceptualization, Methodology, Data Curation, Software, Formal analysis, Writing-Original Draft; L.M: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Writing - Review & Editing, Supervision; E.H: Conceptualization, Methodology Writing - Review & Editing, Supervision
Conflict of Interest
The authors had no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge all participants in this study.
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