Structural Relationship Analysis of How Socioeconomic Factors Affect Functional Fitness and Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults

This study aimed to analyze the structural relationships between socioeconomic factors and Functional fitness and activities of daily living (ADL) among older adults, with exercise habits and Functional fitness as mediating variables. A total of 480 older adults aged 65 and above participated in this study. Socioeconomic factors included age, gender, education level, and income level. Functional fitness was measured using the Senior Fitness Test, and ADL was assessed using the Korean Activities of Daily Living (K-ADL) and Korean Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL) scales. Exercise habits were evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships using AMOS 24.0. All five hypotheses were statistically supported. Socioeconomic factors showed significant positive effects on exercise habits (β =.312, p<.001) and Functional fitness (β=.278, p<.001). Exercise habits had a significant positive effect on physical fitness (β=.423, p<.001), functional fitness had a significant positive effect on ADL (β=.374, p<.001). The mediating effects of exercise habits (β=.164, p<.001) and Functional fitness (β=.138, p<.001) were both statistically significant. This study confirmed that socioeconomic factors influence Functional fitness and ADL among older adults through the mediating roles of exercise habits and Functional fitness. These findings suggest the need for differentiated intervention strategies considering socioeconomic characteristics to improve Functional fitness and ADL in older adults.