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29A LIFE STYLE OF WOMEN AND MEN AGED 50-75
Katarzyna Prusik , Monika Micha lowska, Krzysztof Prusik
Academy of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland
Annotation. In 50% a lifestyle determines health and the length of one’s life. 2 types may be distinguished: prohealth and antihealth. The aim of this paper is to present a lifestyle of people age 50 - 75 as well as to find the connection between a lifestyle and the level of pro-health behaviour. The research was conducted by the first part of the ‘Canadian survey’ on 74 people participating sports classes organized by the University of Physical Education and Sport in Gda nsk. In case of younger women the dominant objective is relax, in older subgroups however dominate the objectives connected with increased wellbeing, both physical and mental. In the analysed group dominate non-smoking people. Large group of respondents declares also that the most part of their spare time they spend on the activities that do not involve physical activity, such as reading or watching television. herefore, the group in question demonstrates some modes of prohealth lifestyle, but simultaneously indicates some kind of incongruity in its declarations, for example they declare the objectives connected with the physical activity, but at the same time they spend the majority of time on the activities that do not involve it.
Key words: physical activity, lifestyle, women and men aged 50-75
Анотація. Прусик Катарина, Михаловська Моніка, Прусик Кшиштоф. Стиль життя жінок і чоловіків у віці 50-75 років. В 50 % спосіб життя визначає здоров'я й тривалість життя. Розрізняють 2 типи: здоров'я й антиздоров'я. Ціль цієї статті полягає в тому, щоб представити спосіб життя людей 50 -75 років і знайти зв'язок між способом життя й рівнем здоров'я. Дослідження проводилося першою частиною «Канадського огляду» на 74 чоловіках, що займаються в спортивних секціях, які організовані Університетом Фізичного виховання й Спорту в Гданську У більше молодих жінок домінуюча мета занять - відпочинок, у старших підгрупах, однак лідирує мета, що пов'язана зі збільшеною фізичною й розумовою активністю життя. У проаналізованій групі лідирують некурящі Більша група респондентів заявляє, що більшу частину свого вільного часу вони витрачають на дії, які не утягують їх у рухову активність, таких як читання або перегляд телебачення. Ще одна розглянута група демонструє деякі способи здорового способу життя, але одночасно вказує деяку несумісність у її деклараціях. Наприклад, вони заявляють мету, що пов'язана з руховою активністю, але в той же самий час проводять більшість часу на дії, які із цим не зв'язані.
Ключові слова: рухова активність, спосіб життя, жінки, чоловіки, вік 50-75.
Аннотация. Прусик Катарина, Михаловска Моника, Прусик Кшиштоф. Стиль жизни женщин и мужчин в возрасте 50-75 лет. В 50 % образ жизни определяет здоровье и длительность жизни. Различают 2 типа: здоровье и антиздоровье. Цель этой статьи состоит в том, чтобы представить образ жизни людей 50 - 75 и найти связь между образом жизни и уровнем здоровья. Исследование проводилось первой частью «Канадского обзора» на 74 человеках, занимающихся в спортивных секциях, которые организованы УниверситетомФизического воспитания и Спорта в Гданьске У более молодых женщин доминирующая цель занятий - отдых, в старших подгруппах однако лидируют цели, связанные с увеличенной физической и умственной активностью жизни. В проанализированной группе лидируют некурящие Большая группа респондентов заявляет, что большую часть своего свободного времени они тратят на действия, которые не вовлекают их в двигательную активность, таких как чтение или просмотр телевидения Еще одна рассматриваемая группа демонстрирует некоторые способы здорового образа жизни, но одновременно указывает некоторую несовместимость в ее декларациях. Например, они заявляют цели, связанные с двигательной активностью, но в то же самое время проводят большинство времени на действия, которые с этим не связаны.
Ключевые слова: двигательная активность, образ жизни, женщины, мужчины, возрасте 50-75.
Background
A lifestyle has a distinguished influence on health and the length of life, and comprises 50% of all influence (Karski, 2000). It may be described as a certain compromise between choices, conditionings and possibilities. It is a general philosophy of life, a set of attitudes and behaviours, concerning both individuals and groups (Woynarowska and co-workers, 1993). Lifestyle’s basic elements are health behaviours, by some authors also called the behaviours related to health (Ostrowska, 1999; S lonska and Misiura, 2000). They can be defined as all kinds of behaviours, activities or refraining from doing something that directly or indirectly influence human’s health or frame of mind. Such behaviours may be conducive to health, and in such cases they are described (similarly to lifestyles) as prohealth, or be harmful to health - they are then antihealth (negative), hazardous to health (Wojnarowska and co-workers, 1993; S§k, 2005).
Prohealth behaviours, above others, include appropriate physical activity and proper diet, as well as coping with stress and complying with safety and hygiene rules.
Antihealth behaviours, also called self-destructive, are mainly addictions, of which the most hazardous to health are drugs and medicine abuse, smoking, alcohol usage, as well as the insufficiency of pro-health behaviors
(W oynarowska and Mazur, 2000). Prohealth behaviours therefore, may become antihealth if we desist them, and antihealth behaviours can become prohealth if we resign from them. Prohealth lifestyle then, that is indispensable for strengthening and improving one’s health, must concentrate on positive behaviours and avoiding harmful activities. Unobservance of prohealth lifestyle directives determines the risk of civilization-determined illnesses, which are nowadays described as “the illnesses by choice” (Ostrowska,1999).
It has been proved that, in prophylaxis of the civilization-determined illnesses, combining the influence of the prohealth behaviours with the elimination of the antihealth behaviours is of the essential importance. It results from the synergistic effect of various factors. As long-term research showed, the possibility of death due to angina pectoris diminishes by 65% in case of increasing physical activity and simultaneous resigning from smoking (Kunski, 2000). Non-smoking is therefore an essential factor in prophylaxis of the civilization-determined illnesses. Drinking alcohol is likewise connected with our health. The negative influence of alcohol as a toxic substance manifests itself by being damaging to most of human’s organs and systems (Zolnierczuk-Kieliszek, 2002). Additionally, the addiction to intoxicants has a devastating effect on human’s organism.
To sum up, in a contemporary, holistic paradigm of health, lifestyle plays an extremely important and specified role. The connection between lifestyle and health is undeniable. Not only avoiding antihealth behaviours is important, but also, perhaps above others, cultivating prohealth behaviours, which particularly influence one’s health. It is worthwhile underlying all-embracing influence of both-physical activity and suitable diet, the behaviours modifying other elements of a lifestyle. By choosing certain attitudes and behaviours, people then make their own decisions about their lives, whether long healthy one, full of worldly achievements, and dreams fulfilled, or “culpable disability” (Ossowski, 2004).
The aim of this work is to show the lifestyle of people aged 50-75, who participated in sports groups organized by the Academy of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk. Additionaly it was predetermined to check if there was any connection between the lifestyle of this group and its health behaviours.
Material and methods
General characteristics of respondents: 74 people aged 50-75, who participated in sports groups organized by the Academy of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk, were questioned to fill in the questionnaire ‘Canadian survey’. The respondents were divided into 3 subgroups: women aged 50-59, women aged 60-75 and men aged 60-75. The younger group of men was overridden because they did not attend. The most numerous group among respondents represented women aged 60-75 years old; there were 46 of them, what constituted 62% of the whole group. Among women in the younger group the average age approximated 55 years, and in older group it was 66,1. Nevertheless the average age of men participating the group was 68,6. In the questionnaire, the time of being retired was also taken into account. The following results were obtained: 3,6 for younger women, 8,6 for older women and 10,5 years for men. More details can be found in table 1.
Table 1.
Respondents ’ average age and the time of being retired.
Women (50-59 years) n=20 W omen (60-75 years) n=46 Men (60-75 years) n=8 T otally n=74
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Age 55,0±2,9 58; 50; 56; 8,7 66,1±5,1 75; 60; 64; 25,8 68,6±4,7 75; 64; 66,5; 22,0 63,4±6,8 75; 50; 63; 46,6
Time of being retired 3,6±7,4 31; 0; 1; 54,9 8,6±6,3 25; 0; 7; 39,6 10,5±8,3 25; 1; 10; 68,3 7,5±7,1 31; 0; 6,5; 51,1
1 - mean ± standard deviation
2 - maximum; minimum; median; variance
The subsequent characteristics of the respondents were weight and height; according to them Body Mass Index (BMI) for every subgroup was calculated. In both women groups the average BMI (25,7 - for younger group, 26,4 - for older group) shows a slight overweight, which deepens with age. The BMI calculated for men group on the other hand shows their proper body mass. Basic soma parameters and the BMI for particular subgroups are collected in table 2.
Table 2.
Anthropometric parameters and BMI for particular subgroups.
Women (50-59 years) n=20 W omen (60-75 years) n=46 Men (60-75 years) n=8 T otally n=74
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Body mass, kg 68,4±9,6 91; 52; 67,5; 91,6 68,4±7,9 90; 55; 67,5; 63,2 71,2±6,4 78; 61; 72,5; 41,1 68,7±8,2 91; 52; 68,5; 67,5
Height, sm 162,9±5,4 174; 155; 162; 29,8 160,8±5,2 172; 150; 160; 27,2 172,9±4,7 180; 167; 171,5; 22,4 162,8±6,4 180; 150; 162; 41,6
BMI 25,7±2,9 34,7; 20,3; 25,5; 8,6 26,4±2,8 34,6; 21,5; 26,1; 7,9 23,9±2,4 27,9; 20,6; 24,3; 5,9 26,0±2,9 34,7; 20,3; 25,6; 8,3
1 - mean ± standard deviation
2 - maximum; minimum; median; variance
Among features which characterised surveyed population, maritial status was also taken into account. Among women aged 50-59 years 70 % was married, however among women aged 60-75 this number fell to 52,2 %. Simultaneously the higher number of widowed women could be observed in the older group; 5 % in the younger group and 28,2 % in the older group. It can be connected with longer life expectancy for women. However in men’s subgroup 62,5 % was married and 37,5 % lived alone. More details about marital status of the respondents can be found in table 3.
Table 3.
Marital status of respondents.
Women (50-59 years) n=20 Women (60-75 years) n=46 Men (60-75 years) n=8 T otally n=74
n % n % n % n %
Married 14 70 24 52,2 5 62,5 43 58,1
Widowed 1 5 13 28,2 1 12,5 15 20,3
Divorced 4 20 3 6,5 1 12,5 8 10,8
Separated 0 0 1 2,2 0 0 1 1,3
Solitary 1 5 5 10,9 1 12,5 7 9,5
Education was also taken into account. Among the respondents there was nobody who finished only primary school. In both women subgroups these with secondary education predominated (appropriately 60% and 52,2%), nevertheless, in men’s group predominated people who finished university - 62,5%.
Table 4.
Educational status of the respondents.
Women (50-59 years) n=20 Women (60-75 years) n=46 Men (60-75 years) n=8 T otally n=74
n % n % n % n %
Primary school 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Secondary school 12 60 24 52,2 3 37,5 39 52,7
University 8 40 22 47,8 5 62,5 35 47,3
The research was conducted by the first part of the questionnaire of Canadian Survey, which consists of eight questions. On account of the small number of respondents the five-point scale in the question number 2 was replaced with three-point scale.
The first question was about the aims, which were important for the respondents to be achived, in their free time. In case of the younger women group, the most important target, was relaxation and the possibility of forgetting about their problems (90%). Going out with others, feeling independent and general health improvement also stood on a high position (80%). Nevertheless, better physical and mental wellbeing, which for older women are on the first place, for younger women are on further positions. For both groups things like fun or competition were not important at all (Fig. 1).
1 - relaxing, forgetting about problems, 2 - getting together with other people, 3 - having fun, 4 - earning money, 5 - getting outdoors, 6 - competing, winning, 7 - feeling independent, 8 - feeling better mentally, 9 -feeling better physically, 10 - improving, mainteining physical fitness, 11 - learning new things, 12 - looking better, controlling weight
Fig. 1. The aims, which women from both age groups wanted to achive in their free time.
However, if men and women aged 60-75 would be taken into account marked variances can be found in the aims, which they want to achieve. For the men the most important aim was feeling better mentally. Things which are the most important for the women from the same age group are in the lower positions (Fig. 2).
However, the least important aims for all the groups were the same and the most important aims were different. If the whole group was taken into account the most important targets were: feeling independent (83,8%) and better physical and mental wellbeing (75% and 83,8%).
Also the respondents’ and their parters’ attitude to tobacco was considered. In all the subgroups the most frequent were people who never smoked. Only a little percentage for all the respondents declared smoking one packet of cigarettes a day (Fig. 3).
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
0 i i i i i i i i i i i
1 23456789 10 11 12
Aim
□ Women age 60-75
□ Men age 60-75
1 - relaxing, forgetting about problems, 2 - getting together with other people, 3 - having fun, 4 - earning money, 5 - getting outdoors, 6 - competing, winning, 7 - feeling independent, 8 - feeling better mentally, 9 -feeling better physically, 10 - improving, mainteining physical fitness, 11 - learning new things, 12 - looking better, controlling weight
Fig. 2. Aims, which women and men aged 60-75 years wanted to achieve in their free time.
80 70 60 50 S? 40 30 20 10 0
2
3
1
□ Women age 50-59
□ Women age 60-75
□ Men age 60-75
□ Totally
1 -never smoked, 2 - stopped smoking, 3 - smoked about a packet a day
Fig. 3. Respondents ’ attitude to tobacco.
This was similar among respondents’ partners (Fig. 4). Most people declared that they did not smoke.
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
□ Women age 50-59
□ Women age 60-75
□ Men age 60-75
□ Totally
1 - did not smoke, 2- smoked, 3 - did not have
Fig. 4. Respondents ’ partners attitude to tobacco.
Most respondents declared that they had a large number of close friends and relatives, who worked out regularly, however a part of them stated that none of their close relatives and friends exercised regularly.
Table 5.
Number of close friends and relatives who exercised regularly.
Women (50-59 years) n=20 Women (60-75 years) n=46 Men (60-75 years) n=8 T otally n=74
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
Relatives 2,1±1,5 4;0;2;2,4 1,3±1,4 6;0;1;2,1 1,5±1,4 4;0;1;1,9 1,4±1,4 6;0;1;2,1
Friends 1,2±1,6 4;0;0,5;2,5 2,6±2,7 11;0;2;7,6 2,7±3,2 8;0;1,5;10,3 2,3±2,6 11;0;2;7,0
Nobody exercised regularly 6 42,8% 14 30,5% 2 25,0% 22 32,3%
Most respondents declared that their partners did not exercise regularly. For the whole group only 17,6% affirmed that their partner worked out regularly; this percentage is the highest in men’s subgroup - 32,5%, and the lowest for the women aged 60-75 - 13%. Quite a lot of the respondents also declared, that they did not have a partner, the least frequent group in this case were women aged 50-59 - 14,3%. Nevertheless, among women and men in the same age group (60-75 years) this number formed at about 30%.
Table 6.
Physical activity of respondents' partners.
Women (50-59 years) n=20 W omen (60-75 years) n= 46 Men(60-75 years) n=8 T otally n=68
n % n % n % n %
Exercised regularly 3 21,5 6 13,0 3 32,5 12 17,6
Did not exercise regularly 9 64,2 23 50,0 2 25,0 34 50,0
Did not have 2 14,3 17 37,0 3 32,5 22 32,4
One of the questions was about the amount of time respondents devoted to the exemplary activities during the week.
Most of the women in the younger age group did not participate in voluntary organizations and religious groups (Fig. 5). Women from this age group devoted a lot of time to reading and watching television, nevertheless they did not sacrifice their interests to self-reliant hobby. The most often they devoted about 1-2 hours during the week visitig with relatives (50%), however visiting friends they also sacrifice about 1-2 hours (65%). Not many of them took part in organizing and leading voluntary physical activities - 35%. Only 5% of women declared other forms of spending time, for example looking after grandchildren.
□ 0 hours per week
□ 1-2 hours per week
□ 3-4 hours per week
□ 5-9 hours per week
□ 10-14 hours per week
□ 15 or more hours per week
1 - watching television, 2 - reading, 3 - self-relient hobby, 4 - visiting with relatives, 5 - visiting with friends, 6
- cultural events, 7 - voluntary organizing or leading physical activity, 8 - religious groups, 9 - voluntary organizations, 10 - others
Fig 5. The time that women aged 50-59 spent on different activities.
Quite similarly things looked in the older women group (Fig. 6). This group also declared spending quite a lot of time watching television and reading. In this group rose the amount of time spending in religious groups, but time devoted to voluntary organizations did not change. Time spending on organizing voluntary physical activity did not change.
1 - watching television, 2 - reading, 3 - self-relient hobby, 4 - visiting with relatives, 5 - visiting with friends, 6
- cultural events, 7 - voluntary organizing or leading physical activity, 8 - religious groups, 9 - voluntary organizations, 10 - different
Fig 6. The time that women aged 60-75 spent on different activities.
Also the men’s group did not show a lot of differences (Fig. 7). They devoted the most of their free time to activities like reading and watching television. What could be observed is more time spending on a self-relient hobby. They were no more interested in voluntary organizing or leading physical activity then other groups. They did not attend to religious or voluntary groups.
120 100 80 60 40 20
0
1 23456789 10
□ 0 hours per week
□ 1-2 hours per week
□ 3-4 hours per week
□ 5-9 hours per week
□ 10-14 hours per week
□ 15 or more hours per week
1 - watching television, 2 - reading, 3 - self-relient hobby, 4 - visiting with relatives, 5 - visiting with friends, 6
- cultural events, 7 - voluntary organizing or leading physical activity, 8 - religious groups, 9 - voluntary organizations, 10 - different
Fig. 7. The time that men aged 60-75 spent on different activities.
Conclusions
The elaborated part of the ‘Canadian Survey’ enables to draw some general conclusions about the lifestyle of these age group. Most of the respondents spent their free time watching television and reading; they spent only little time organizing or leading physical activities. This was general tendency both for the particular subgroups and for the whole group. Nevertheless the most important aims, which particular subgroups wanted to achieve in their free time were similar. In these two questions some kind of incoherence could be observed, because most of the respondents declared that they spent the most of time doing home activities, and in the same time, they declared aims, that needed going out. General non-smoking tendency could be observed; only a few respondents smoked a packet of cigarettes a day (4,1%), and the rest of them never smoked or stopped smoking, the average 15,8 years ago. Quite a big number of smokers could be observed among respondents’ partners (16,2%). Most of the respondents declared having a large number of close friends and relatives, which could help them in achieving higher level of physical activity. In the same time only 18,9% of respondents’ partners exercised regularly. So some health behaviours could be observed in the lifestyle of the whole group.
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Came to edition 06.01.2008.
