Exercise and Psychological Health in Seniors

It is an elective module of the 3rd semester, of the master program Exercise Psychology. In this course, students will acquire the necessary knowledge and competencies that will enable them to explain the exercise behaviour of aged persons and help seniors to increase their physical activity in order to improve their mental health and their quality of life.

Objectives

At the end of this module students should: • Understand the limitations that aged persons face in exercise physical activity and activities of everyday living, as well the mechanisms underlying these limitations. • Understand the methodological issues in aging research related mainly to the inter-individual variability • Understand the determinants of quality of life in seniors and know methods of interventions aiming to the improvement of physical and mental health in advanced age. • Understand the mechanisms of the positive effects of exercise on cognitive function in seniors.

Prerequisites

none

Syllabus

1. Introduction to aging and psychology of aging 2. Physiological alterations, physical performance and physical fitness 3. Methodological issues and individual differences in aging. Assessment of physical activity. 4. Health, fitness and well-being in seniors 5. Cognitive function and learning in seniors 6. Seminar: Physical activity and mental health in the elderly: recent findings and research trends.