Association Between Functional Fitness and Mental Health Indicators in Older Adults: A Field Study

The link between physical fitness and mental health is well established in older age. This study examined its strength in adults 60+ using seven physical and six psychological measures. A total of 114 participants underwent functionality tests, including the Senior Test and handgrip strength. Mental well-being was assessed through resilience, happiness, stress, hopelessness, and life satisfaction. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identified two latent constructs: physical performance (PHP) and mental well-being (MWB), with a moderate correlation (r = .46). Findings suggest a 21.25% shared variance, quantifying for the first time the strength of association between functionality and mental health in older adults.