Daily Pedometer Steps among Older Men: Associations with Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychosocial Health

Abstract

Purpose.

To determine the associations of daily pedometer steps with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial health.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Setting.

Alberta, Canada.

Subjects.

Three hundred eighty-five older-aged men 55 years of age and older.

Measures.

Subjects completed a mailed survey that assessed HRQoL (RAND-12 Health Status Inventory [RAND-12]), depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with life. Steps/day were assessed with a pedometer via a 3-day step-monitoring period.

Analysis.

Average pedometer steps/d were categorized into quartiles (Qs). The primary model assessed the association between average pedometer steps/d as the independent variable of interest and our dependent variables of interest (physical, mental, and global health component scores of the RAND-12).

Results.

For HRQoL, all three adjusted models (i.e., physical, mental, and global health) indicated a significant linear trend between HRQoL indices across pedometer step Qs, with participants in Q3 and Q4 demonstrating higher physical, mental, and global health compared to participants in the lowest Q of pedometer steps (Q1) (all p < .05). For depression, significant differences were observed between Q1 and Q3 (M_diff = 3.3, p = .006, η² = .019) and Q1 and Q4 (M_diff = 2.7, p = .025, η² = .013).

Conclusion.

Higher average steps/d were significantly associated with HRQoL across all domains. Older men in the higher Qs of pedometer steps/d reported less depressive symptoms compared to those in the lowest Q of pedometer steps/d.