Citation

Finkenzeller T, Müller E, Würth S, Amesberger G. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 2011; 21: 69-75.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01344.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess whether a guided alpine skiing intervention lasting 12 weeks has an impact on psycho‐social dimensions, measured by subjective assessments, of individuals who are 60+ years of age. A number of well‐established questionnaires were used to measure well‐being, life satisfaction, self‐concept, health status, depression and self‐efficacy. The physical self‐concept in the domain "strength" increased significantly in the intervention group from pre‐ to post‐test and remained stable through the retention test, whereas the control group demonstrated nearly no alteration. A similar effect was obtained in life satisfaction for the dimension "friends and relatives." On the contrary, psycho‐social aspects of the elderly were not negatively influenced. The subjects of this study had very high pre‐test scores that might reflect a ceiling effect which, in turn, can explain the marginal positive impact of the intervention. The findings of this study argue for recommending a guided alpine skiing intervention for individuals who are 60 years of age and older with high values in psycho‐social variables.