Researchers wanted to know if teaching older adults about healthy living could actually change their behavior. They worked with 118 seniors in Iran, giving half of them eight 30-minute classes about nutrition, exercise, stress relief, and mental health. Two months later, they checked how much the seniors’ lifestyles had improved. The group that took the classes showed big improvements in almost every area of healthy living—from eating better to exercising more to managing stress. This study suggests that simple educational programs can help older adults live healthier lives.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether teaching older adults about healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and mental health could actually improve their overall lifestyle and daily habits.
  • Who participated: 118 older adults from health centers in Qom, Iran. They were divided into two groups: one group received eight 30-minute educational classes, and the other group didn’t receive any classes.
  • Key finding: The group that received the classes showed significant improvements across all areas of healthy living—including better nutrition, more physical activity, better stress management, and improved relationships—compared to the group that didn’t receive classes.
  • What it means for you: If you’re an older adult or care for one, simple educational programs about healthy habits may help improve quality of life. However, this study was done in Iran, so results may differ in other countries. Talk to your doctor before making major lifestyle changes.

The Research Details

This was a quasi-experimental study, which means researchers divided people into two groups but didn’t randomly assign them (like flipping a coin). One group received the educational intervention while the other group served as a comparison. The researchers used a questionnaire called the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II to measure how healthy the participants’ lifestyles were before and after the program.

The intervention group attended eight classes, each lasting 30 minutes, held twice per week. These classes covered four main topics: how to eat well, how to stay physically active, how to manage stress, and how to maintain good mental health. The control group didn’t receive any classes during the study period.

Two months after the classes ended, both groups completed the same questionnaire again so researchers could see if the group that received classes had made more improvements than the group that didn’t.

This research approach is important because it shows whether teaching actually leads to real behavior change in older adults. Rather than just asking people if they think education is helpful, researchers measured actual changes in lifestyle behaviors. The fact that they measured both groups before and after the program helps show that improvements came from the classes, not from other factors.

This study has some strengths: it measured real behavior changes using a validated questionnaire, it included a comparison group, and it had a decent sample size of 118 people. However, it has limitations: the study was only done in one city in Iran, so results may not apply everywhere. The study only followed people for two months after the program, so we don’t know if improvements lasted longer. Also, because people weren’t randomly assigned to groups, there could be differences between the groups that affected results.

What the Results Show

Before the classes started, both groups had similar scores on all measures of healthy lifestyle. This is important because it shows the groups started out equal. After the educational program, the group that received classes showed significant improvements in every single area measured: health responsibility (taking charge of your own health), physical activity, nutrition, stress management, relationships with others, spiritual growth, and self-actualization (becoming your best self).

The improvements were statistically significant, which means they were large enough that they almost certainly didn’t happen by chance. In contrast, the control group (the group that didn’t receive classes) showed little to no improvement over the same two-month period. This difference between the groups strongly suggests that the educational classes caused the improvements.

The study measured seven different dimensions of healthy living, and improvements occurred in all of them. This is particularly important because it shows the classes had broad benefits, not just in one area. For example, people didn’t just exercise more—they also ate better, managed stress better, and improved their relationships. This suggests that teaching about healthy living creates a ripple effect where improvements in one area support improvements in others.

Previous research has suggested that education can help older adults adopt healthier behaviors, but many studies only looked at one or two specific behaviors (like exercise or diet). This study is valuable because it looked at multiple dimensions of healthy living at the same time. The findings support and expand on earlier research showing that older adults can and do change their behaviors when given proper education and support.

The study only included people from health service centers in one city in Iran, so results may not apply to older adults in other countries or regions with different cultures and healthcare systems. The study only followed participants for two months after the program ended, so we don’t know if the improvements lasted longer or if people eventually went back to old habits. The study didn’t randomly assign people to groups, which means some differences between groups could have affected results. Additionally, the study relied on people’s self-reported answers about their behaviors, which may not always be completely accurate.

The Bottom Line

If you’re an older adult, consider participating in educational programs about healthy living in your community. These programs appear to help people improve their eating habits, exercise more, manage stress better, and improve their relationships. Start with one area (like nutrition or physical activity) and gradually add others. Talk with your doctor before starting any new exercise program or making major dietary changes. (Confidence level: Moderate—this study shows promise, but more research in different populations is needed.)

This research is most relevant to older adults looking to improve their overall health and quality of life, family members supporting older adults, and healthcare providers or community centers designing programs for seniors. People with serious health conditions should consult their doctor before making lifestyle changes. This study was done with Iranian seniors, so results may vary for older adults in other countries.

Based on this study, you might expect to see noticeable improvements in your lifestyle within two months of starting an educational program. However, maintaining these changes requires ongoing effort. The study didn’t track people beyond two months, so it’s unclear how long improvements last without continued support or reinforcement.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily physical activity (minutes of exercise), daily water intake and servings of fruits/vegetables, weekly stress management activities (meditation, deep breathing, or relaxation time), and weekly social interactions or relationship-building activities. Use a simple daily checklist to mark completion of each category.
  • Start with one small change per week: Week 1 add a 15-minute walk, Week 2 add one extra vegetable serving daily, Week 3 add 5 minutes of daily stress relief, Week 4 schedule one social activity. Use app reminders and celebrate small wins to build momentum.
  • Set weekly check-ins to review your progress in all four areas (activity, nutrition, stress management, relationships). Create a simple scoring system (1-10 for each area) and track weekly averages. Review monthly trends to identify which areas need more support and celebrate improvements.

This research suggests that educational programs may help older adults improve their lifestyle habits, but it should not replace professional medical advice. Before starting any new exercise program, changing your diet significantly, or making other major health changes, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider. Results from this study were conducted in Iran and may not apply equally to all populations. Individual results vary based on age, health status, and other factors. If you have chronic health conditions, mental health concerns, or take medications, work with your healthcare team before making lifestyle changes.