Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Public Health

02 IMPACT OF GROUP-BASED EXERCISE CLASSES AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS ON DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION AT A RURAL ELDER CARE FACILITY

Priya Batheja, OMS-III, Harpeet Dhami, OMS-III, Ramu Anandakrishnan, PhD, Richard Williams, MD, Ed Magalhaes, PhD Corresponding author: hdhami@vcom.edu, pbatheja@vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia

of exercise based on an individual's fitness level, in order to promote physical improvement while also enhancing emotional and mental well-being. One limitation of this study is that participants were required to complete the PHQ-8 survey in a single session, which may have introduced recall bias. Additionally, the sample size may be another limitation that could affect the study. This study was approved by the VCOM IRB, Protocol 2276399-1.

Introduction: This pilot study examined the effects of group exercise classes on depression and loneliness in the elderly population, specifically at a rural elder care facility (Warm Hearth Village, Blacksburg, VA). The elderly population is more susceptible to developing depression and experiencing symptoms of social isolation. The primary aim of this study was to see if the exercise classes at Warm Hearth positively impact depression and loneliness in the elderly population, specifically by observing how classes affect Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) scores of the residents. Methods: Data was collected from the month of March 2024 to April 2024, where residents filled out a survey assessing PHQ-8 scores before and after attending classes. The survey also collected data regarding feelings of isolation, social interactions, access to therapists, and demographics, such as communities lived in and classes attended. The sample size was 77 participants. Data was analyzed using Krusal Wallace, Mann U Whitney, and a Wilcoxon calculator.

Results: Data analysis showed statistically significant results across two groups. First, a Mann Whitney U calculator was used to compare participants who attended classes compared to residents that didn't attend. Findings were significant (p = 0.001), demonstrating a difference in attending classes to those that didn't. Additionally, a Wilcoxon calculator was used to compare the before and after scores for those who attended classes. Findings were significant (p = .0278), showing a reduction in depression scores in participants who attended classes. Discussion: The purpose of this study was to examine whether physical activity combined with social engagement can improve the quality of life among the elderly population, and a positive correlation was found. This study is unique in the fact that it quantitatively evaluates the impact of exercise on depression in the elderly population using the PHQ 8 scale, allowing for a clear measurement. While previous research has established a general correlation between exercise and reduced depressive symptoms, this study specifically uses the PHQ- to determine the strength and extent of that relationship. Therefore, future programs can focus on prioritizing specific types

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