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The authors would like to thank the volunteers and nursing home staff members for their support of the study. We also thank two reviewers for their unrewarded work and valuable feedback, which helped us improve the report.

Analysis of institutional authors

Ruiz-Barquin, RobertoAuthor

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January 13, 2025
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Functional fitness and psychological well-being in older adults

Publicated to:BMC Geriatrics. 25 (1): 9- - 2025-01-04 25(1), DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05654-2

Authors: Toth, Eliza E; Vujic, Aleksandar; Ihasz, Ferenc; Ruiz-Barquin, Roberto; Szabo, Attila

Affiliations

ELTE Eotvos Lorand Univ Budapest, Doctoral Sch Psychol, Budapest, Hungary - Author
Eotvos Lorand Univ, Inst Hlth Promot & Sport Sci, Fac Educ & Psychol, Bogdanfy St 12, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary - Author
Eotvos Lorand Univ, Inst Sport Sci, Fac Educ & Psychol, Szombathely, Hungary - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Formac Profesorado & Educ, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical fitness and functioning are related to better mental health in older age. However, which fitness components (body composition, strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance) are more closely related to psychological well-being (PWB) is unclear.MethodsThis research examined how body mass index (BMI) and six indices of functional fitness (i.e., lower and upper body strength, lower and upper body flexibility, coordination [based on agility and balance], and aerobic endurance) relate to five psychological measures that could mirror PWB (i.e., resilience, mental well-being, optimism, life satisfaction, and happiness). Thirty-nine older adults (60-94 years; two-thirds female) were examined with the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test (FFFT) after completing five psychometric instruments.ResultsData were analyzed with correlations, ordinary least squares regressions, and regularized (elastic net) regressions, calculating the Lindeman, Merenda, and Gold (LMG) indices of the relative importance of the six FFFT components separately for the five psychological measures. Results revealed that BMI, upper body strength, and upper body flexibility were the least significant predictors of PWB. In contrast, endurance, complex movement coordination, and lower body flexibility emerged as the most significant predictors. Still, lower body strength correlated moderately positively with all PWB indices, and similarly, upper body flexibility with resilience, mental well-being, and happiness.ConclusionsThese findings should stimulate research on the mechanism connecting functional fitness with PWB in older adults. Further, apart from their novelty, the findings could be valuable in providing directions for physical fitness intervention programs targeting mental and physical health for older people.

Keywords

AgeingExerciseFitnessFunctionalityLifeMental healtMental healthOptimismPhysical-activityReliabilitySatisfactionScalValidation

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal BMC Geriatrics due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Geriatrics and Gerontology.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-16:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 34.

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 10.
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Hungary.