THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDICATORS AMONG ELDERLY INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31891/pcs.2026.1.29Keywords:
quality of life, health-enhancing recreational physical activity, internally displaced persons, elderly, correlation relationshipAbstract
The article addresses the pressing socio-medical challenge of supporting older internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine amid the ongoing military aggression. The study aims to scientifically substantiate the relationship between levels of recreational physical activity and quality of life indicators for this vulnerable population group using correlation analysis. The research involved 152 IDPs (average age 68) from the "Turbota" social service center in Chernivtsi. Methodological tools included the SF-36 Health Survey for quality of life (QoL) assessment and the IPAQ questionnaire for quantifying physical activity in MET-minutes/week. Descriptive data revealed a critical decline in quality of life across most domains. The lowest scores were recorded for Role-Physical (Me=25) and Role-Emotional (Me=33.3) functioning, indicating severe limitations in daily activities due to physical pain and emotional exhaustion. While the average activity level (1368 MET-min/week) falls into the moderate category, a significant portion of the sample (25th percentile - 693 MET-min) leads to a sedentary lifestyle. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated statistically significant positive relationships between physical activity and several QoL components: Bodily Pain (ρ=0.424), Vitality (ρ=0.410), Role-Emotional (ρ=0.400), and Role-Physical (ρ=0.337) functioning, as well as Social Functioning (ρ=0.305). These findings highlight movement as a natural non-pharmacological analgesic and a tool for social reintegration. Interestingly, no significant correlation was found with Mental Health (p=0.611), suggesting that the existential trauma of displacement requires specialized psychotherapeutic intervention beyond general physical activity. The study concludes that integrating "Mental Fitness" techniques (yoga, pilates, breathing exercises) into recreational programs is essential for improving the holistic well-being of older IDPs.
References
Andryeyeva O., Hakman A. Rukhova aktyvnistʹ ta yakistʹ zhyttya yak komponenty aktyvnoho starinnya u pokhylomu vitsi. Physical education, sport and health culture in modern society. 2021. № 2(54). S. 49–55. https://doi.org/10.29038/2220-7481-2021-02-49-55
Baydyuk M. Sotsialʹno-pedahohichi zasady motyvatsiynykh priorytetiv do ozdorovcho-rekreatsiynoyi rukhovoyi aktyvnosti u vnutrishnʹoperemishchenykh osib pokhyloho viku. Fizychna aktyvnistʹ i yakistʹ zhyttya lyudyny: zb. tez dop. IX Mizhnar. nauk.-prakt. konf. 12-13 cherv. 2025 r. / uklad.: A. V. Tsʹosʹ, S. YA. Indyka: Volyn. nats. un-t im. Lesi Ukrayinky, Lutsʹk. 2025. S. 75-77
Krutsevych, T. YU. Yakistʹ zhyttya i fizychna aktyvnistʹ cholovikiv i zhinok druhoho zriloho viku / T. YU. Krutsevych, O. B. Ivanik, L. I. Pohasiy. Naukovyy chasopys Natsionalʹnoho pedahohichnoho universytetu imeni M. P. Drahomanova. Seriya 15: Naukovo-pedahohichni problemy fizychnoyi kulʹtury (fizychna kulʹtura i sport): zb. nauk. pratsʹ. Kyyiv: Vyd-vo NPU imeni M. P. Drahomanova, 2019. Vyp. 2 (108). S. 95-99; Ware J. E. Jr, Sherbourne C. D. The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Medical care. 1992. Vol. 30(6). P. 473–483
Kucher S. Otsinka yakosti zhyttya za dopomohoyu opytuvalʹnyka SF-36: analiz literaturnykh danykh / S. Kucher ta in. Perspektyvy ta innovatsiyi nauky. 2024. № 4(38). https://doi.org/10.52058/2786-4952-2024-4(38)-1313-1324
Ahmad O. B., Boschi Pinto C., Lopez A. D. Age Standardization of Rates: A New WHO Standard. GPE Discussion Paper Series: No 31. 2001. P. 10-12. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/health-statistics-noncommunicable-diseases/gpe_discussion_paper_series_no31.pdf
Bashkireva A.S., Bogdanova D.Y., Bilyk A.Y., et al. Quality of Life and Physical Activity among Elderly and Old People. Advances in Gerontology. 2019. Vol. 9. P. 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079057019020048
Borshchevskyi V., Tsybulska J. What is the Impact of Social Isolation of Internally Displaced Persons in Rural Communities? Implications for Ukraine’s Recovery. Social Policy Issues. 2025. Vol. 71(4). P. 1–27. URL: https://doi.org/10.31971/pps/214249
Dąbrowska-Galas M., Onik G., Rutkowska M., et al. Better Quality of Life in Physically Active Adults Regardless of Age. Geriatrics. 2024. Vol. 9(6). Art. 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics9060166
Displacement and Social Cohesion in Ukraine: Discrimination, Inclusion and Long-Term Intentions: thematic brief, February 2025 / International Organization for Migration. Kyiv: IOM, 2025. 13 p. https://crisisresponse.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1481/files/appeal/documents/UKR_IOM_Displacement%20and%20Social%20Cohesion%20in%20Ukraine_February%202025.pdf
Emergency Appeal: Ukraine, January 2025 / World Health Organization. Geneva: WHO, 2025. 18 p. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/emergencies/2025-appeals/ukraine-hea.pdf
HIAS. Assessing the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Adolescent Girls in Displacement: A Research Report / HIAS. 2024. 44 p. URL: https://hias.org/wp-content/uploads/HIAS-GIRLS-MHPSS-Full-Report-English.pdf
Kyrychenko A., Khanyukova I., Moroz O., et al. Disability trends among elderly Ukrainians in war conditions: a 10-year retrospective study. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 2024. Vol. 36(1). Art. 211. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-024-02863-y
Lee P. H., Macfarlane D. J., Lam T. H., et al. Validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF): a systematic review. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2011. Vol. 8. Art. 115. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-115
Mental health burden of persons living in Ukraine and Ukrainians displaced to Switzerland: the mental health assessment of the Ukrainian population (MAP) studies / V. Yasenok et al. BMJ Global Health. 2025. Vol. 10, no. 8. P. e019557. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019557
Milutina K., Borets O., Morozova O. Application of a Modified Narrative Exposure Therapyin Work with Internally Displaced Persons. Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Social work. 2025. No. 11. P. 102–106. URL: https://doi.org/10.17721/2616-7786.2025/11-1/12
Pavlova I. et all. Life quality and physical activity of Ukrainian residents / Journal of Physical Education and Sport. 2015. Т. 15(4). pp. 809-814. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2015.04124
Perelli-Harris B., Zavisca J., Levchuk N., et al. Internal Displacement and Subjective Well-Being: The Case of Ukraine in 2018. Social Forces. 2024. Vol. 102(3). P. 1157–1179. URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soad124
Puciato D., Borysiuk Z., Rozpara M. Quality of life and physical activity in an older working-age population. Clinical interventions in aging. 2017. Vol. 12. P. 1627–1634. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S144045
Social integration of internally displaced persons in Ukraine: Perceptions from IDPs vs. the host population / H. Mishchuk et al. Economics & Sociology. 2024. Vol. 17, no. 4. P. 61–81. URL: https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789x.2024/17-4/4
Toren O., Novoseller T., Selig D., et al. Health Perception and Anxiety Among Internally Displaced and Non-Displaced Israeli Adults: The Mediating Role of Emotional Well-Being and Functioning. Healthcare. 2025. Vol. 13(22). Art. 2994. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222994
Zaloilo, I., Trachuk, S., Rudenko, A., & Khrypko, I. (2024). The effect of the mental fitness activity program on quality of life indicators of temporary displaced women of mature age. Scientific Journal of National Pedagogical Dragomanov University. Series 15. Scientific and pedagogical problems of physical culture (physical culture and sports), (3(175)), 92-97. https://doi.org/10.31392/udu-nc.series15.2024.3(175).16
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Анна ГАКМАН, Микола БАЙДЮК
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
