The comparison of mental health of elderly men in three athletic, active, and sedentary groups

As a main basis of health, the mental health is required for a good, efficient, and satisfactory personal life. The aim of this study was to compare the mental health and its subscales between elderly men in athletic, active, and sedentary groups. Therefore, we examined 150 elderly men in three groups of athletes, active, and sedentary and proceeded to complete the questionnaires. We administered the general health questionnaire-28. Also, to assign aging participants in two groups of active and sedentary, we used the Yale physical activity questionnaire and Baecke's questionnaire. The athletes aged group was separately selected from the veteran’s soccer teams over 60 years. The results of this study revealed that there was a significant difference between three groups in physical activity levels, mental health, and two sub-scales of mental health including depression symptoms, and social function. Also, there was a significant difference between active and sedentary groups and between athletic and sedentary groups in physical symptoms, as well as anxiety and sleep disorder subscales. However the difference was not significant between the athletic and active groups. These results suggest that adapted physical activity programs to the structural and psychological characteristics of elderly men can improve their mental health and lifestyle as much as their physical health.