Influence of physical activity on loneliness and depression among the older adults in Nigeria

This study aims to determine the predictive influence of physical activities (PA) and evaluate the interactive effect of PA and loneliness on depression among older adults in Nigeria. Data was collected from 369 randomly selected older adults and analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression models. The result showed that that the predictors of depression were loneliness (OR = 4.59; p < 0.001), PA High (OR = 2.51; p = 0.008), Age 80-89(OR = 9.63; p < 0.001), education: Secondary (OR = 2.04; 0.049), religion (OR = 0.30; p 0 < 0.001) and living arrangement: Family (OR = 1.87; p = 0.037. The study further showed that there is an interactive effect of PA to reduce the odds of loneliness on depression (OR reduced from 4.59 to 3.40). The study concluded that the predictors of depression in this population are loneliness, physical activity, age, education, and religion while depression and the living arrangements are the predictors of loneliness among older adults.