Life Satisfaction and Mood Assessment of Danish Nursing Home Residents' Participation in Cycling Without Age: A Pre/Post 16- to 20-Week Evaluation

ABSTRACTPURPOSE: To evaluate whether participation in the Cycling Without Age program isassociated with improvements in life satisfaction and mood.METHOD: A 16- to 20-week quasi-experimental single-arm study, using a pre/postevaluation with a total of 52 participants (median age = 79.5 years) from eight Dan-ish nursing homes, was conducted. Data were obtained prior to and immediatelyfollowing rides through interview-based questionnaires assessing life satisfactionusing the 10-point Cantril Ladder at baseline and follow up, and mood assessmentsusing a 5-point smiley scale.RESULTS: Life satisfaction improved significantly (+0.94, p = 0.04) over the studyperiod, especially in men, and those with zero to five trishaw rides. Mood also im-proved significantly (+1.01, p < 0.001) immediately after rides.CONCLUSION: Participation in Cycling Without Age significantly improved moodand enhanced life satisfaction among nursing homes residents. Findings under-score the potential of volunteer-driven trishaw activities for community-basedhealth promotion in nursing homes. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.]