Lifestyle redesign, quality of life, depressive symptoms in older adults

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the Israeli Lifestyle Program (ILP) on older adults’ quality of life (QoL) and depressive symptoms. The study employed a non-randomized controlled pre-post intervention design, (N = 99), ages 60+ years, living independently in the community. The ILP group (n = 79) participated in 15 weekly group meetings and two individual sessions. The control group (n = 20) received an educational booklet based on the ILP content. Participants completed the (WHOQoL-BREF) and a Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) pre and post intervention. At baseline, no significant differences were found between the groups. Post-intervention, the ILP group values improved in the psychological (p <.001, η² =.154), social relationship (p <.001, η² =.131), and environmental (p =.002, η² =.105) domains of the WHOQoL- BREF, whereas no change was found in these domains among the control group. Physical QoL increased beyond group (p =.020, η² =.056), although not significantly. ILP participants showed no change in the depressive symptom report (p =.424, η² =.007), whereas participants in the control group, reported more depressive symptoms (p =.009, η² =.070). The ILP was found to increase participants’ QoL and deemed as a promising health enhancement intervention for community-dwelling older adults.