Comparison of Functional Fitness and Self-esteem among Elderly Women Engaging Different Exercise Programs: Walking, Low Impact Aerobic, and Chi-kung

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English. Purposes: 1) Elderly females engaging different exercise programs (walking, low impact aerobic, chi-kung) and sedentary elderly women were compared on self-esteem and functional fitness; 2) The predictability of the 6 functional fitness variables to self-esteem was also tested. Methods: 256 elderly females (55-75 years old) were selected from each of the 3-exercised group (walking, low-impact aerobic, and chi-kung class) and sedentary group respectively. Measuring instruments included Functional Fitness Test and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). One-way ANOVA was utilized to compare the three exercised-group of subjects on the overall self-esteem score (Rosenberg, 1965), and the multiple regression analysis was utilized to determine whether the 6 functional fitness predictors add to a linear function of self-esteem. Results: ‘Flexibility' was found to be significant (p .05) were found among the three groups in the mean‘ CARDIO' scores. Conclusion: Elderly females engaging in low impact aerobic have higher self-esteem and better functional fitness. Furthermore, Flexibility is the most important predictor of self-esteem in elderly females. 目的比較從事步行、低衝擊有氧、及氣功與久坐生活形態之中老年婦女其自尊值和功能性體適能之差異。同時評估六項功能性體適能指標對於自尊值的預測能力。方法以256位自願參與年齡介於55歲到77歲之中老年婦女為受測者其中49位為久坐生活形態的中老年婦女85位從事氣功35位從事步行以及87位從事低衝擊有氧運動。本研究之測量包括功能性體適能測驗以及羅斯伯格自尊心之測量。結果一、功能性體適能中柔軟度為自尊程度的顯著(p<.05)預測用變項二、從事規律運動的中老年婦女之自尊值、身體質量指數、柔軟度、平衡、及敏捷性顯著(p<.05)高於沒有從事規律運動的中老年婦女三、從事低衝擊有氧運動之中老年婦女的自尊程度和功能性體適能顯著(p<.05)高於從事步行、氣功的中老年婦女。結論從事低衝擊有氧運動的參與者有較高的自尊及較好的功能性體適能狀況。除此之外柔軟度是「自尊」之重要預測用變項。