Abstract
According to active aging theory, self-management plays a pivotal role for well-being of older adults as they navigate the aging process. The current quasi-experimental study, employing a between-within design, examines the impact of guided group physical training on changes in self-management and its subsequent effect on quality of life among a sample of independently living old adults. We assessed balance, strength, mobility, self-management, and quality of life were among 149 older adults (123 females, 26 males), mean age = 77.21. Half of the participants then began a 6 months of chair exercise training, consisting of one session per week. However, the training program was interrupted after 22 sessions due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, participants were re-evaluated following the initial lockdown announcement but before its implementation. Show first, that practicing physical exercises, among the intervention group, led to increases in the three measured physiological abilities-balance, strength and movement-as well self-management and physical and mental quality of life. Second, the physiological abilities, were fully indirectly associated through self-management with physical and mental quality of life. The present findings provide a clear understanding of the role of self-management as a psychological outcome of reflected physical activity, as well as a mediator for health related quality of life. Further, self-management abilities among older adults can be regarded as a protective factor against adverse psychological outcomes at times of trauma.