Comparing the effects of group and home-based physical activity on mental health in the elderly

Background: the present study focuses on comparing the effects of home-based (hb) and group-based (gb) physical activity on mental health in a sample of older adults in shahr-e-kord. methods: in this quasi-experimental study,a twice-weekly physical activity program for 2 months was provided either individually at home or in a group format for 181 people who were divided into two groups (hb and gb). the outcome,mental health,was measured with the 28-item general health questionnaire (ghq-28). results: mental health status improved after participation in the physical activity program. the decrease in ghq-28 total score in gb group,3 months after intervention,was 3.61 � 2.28 (p < 0.001). in hb group,this reduction was 1.20 � 2.32 during the same period (p < 0.001). the difference of these before-after differences between the two groups in the ghq-28 and all its subscales was statistically significant (p < 0.001). also,the effects of gb physical activity on mental health compared with hb physical activity,adjusted for related baseline variables,were significant. conclusions: these findings reveal the probable effects of gb rather than hb physical activity on mental health among the elderly.