The relationship of physical activity level with depression and happiness in individuals aged 65 and over applying to a family health center

Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between the level of physical activity and depression and happiness in individuals aged 65 or older who refer to a family health center. Material and Methods: This study was conducted between September 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022 with 397 participants aged 65 and over who benefited from the Edremit No: 8 Family Health Center in Balıkesir. The data was collected by KBF, PASE, YDO, OMO. Mann Whitney U test for binary variables, Kruskal Wallis H test and Spearman Correlation test for more than two variables were used by using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 program in data analysis. Results: This study was conducted between September 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022 with 397 participants aged 65 and over who benefited from the Edremit No: 8 Family Health Center in Balıkesir. The data was collected by KBF, PASE, YDO, OMO. Mann Whitney U test for binary variables, Kruskal Wallis H test and Spearman Correlation test for more than two variables were used by using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 program in data analysis. Have higher levels of depression than those who are married and widowed; and at the happiness level, participants who are married are happier than single participants. In a continuous variant of illness, the PALs of participants with heart, blood pressure, diabetes were higher than those with other diseases , and there is no differences in levels of depression and happiness. It was determined that the PALs of the participants with heart, blood pressure and diabetes were higher than the participants with other diseases, and there was no difference in the levels of depression and happiness. In the income status variable, groups with a monthly financial income of 1500 - 2000, 3001 - 3500, 3501 and over have higher PAL than those who have a financial income group of 2001 - 2500 liras. Individuals with income of 1500 - 2000 are at a higher level of depression and lower happiness than those in the higher income group. In the PA-making variable, it has been concluded that there is no meaningful consequence between the PAL and the level of depression and at the happiness level those who do the PA are significantly happier. In the variable of with whom are you doing PA, it has been concluded that the group with the highest scores of PAL belongs to participants who do it with their friends. Individuals who do PA alone have a higher level of depression, while those who do not make a PA have the lowest level of happiness. In the correlation analysis between PAL, depression and happiness it is concluded that there is a positive relationship between happiness and PAL, a negative relationship between happiness and depression, and no meaningful relationship between the PAL and depression. Conclusion: It has been determined that there are differences in the levels of PAL, depression and happiness based on the demographic characteristics of the elderly individuals. It has also been concluded that the PAL has no direct effect on depression, but that the PAL is an effective factor in increasing happiness, and that the PAL is an important factor in reducing depression. Thus, it contributes to the reduction of depression on the basis of the happiness factor. Key Words: Depression, Happiness, Level of Physical Activity, Old.