Iranian Journal of War and Public Health

Background: This study investigated the effect of physical activity in the water on self-esteem were elderly men.

 Methods: For this purpose, 36 men aged 60-73 years of retirement education of Razavi Khorasan randomly into two homogeneous groups were divided into experimental and control. For assess self-esteem subjects using a questionnaire measured self-esteem scale of Rosenberg (r=0/84), before and after the study was conducted. Experimental groups did water training program designed for 8 weeks. obtained using dependent t-test (p> 0/05) and software 13-spss were analyzed.

Findings: According to the results obtained, significant difference in pre-test in both groups self-esteem test results were not observed (p=0/360). but this difference was significant in post test and subjects of experimental group to obtain a better score compared to control(p=0/001). Also between pre and post test of subjects, there was only significant difference in experimental group in the mean self-esteem. (p=0/000). but no significant difference was not found between the control group pre-test and post test in self-esteem scores (p=0/083).

Conclusion: Since self-esteem as the most basic psychological needs elderly is psychosomatic, and considering the results to confirm, the role of physical activity in the water to improve self-esteem in older men. So do these activities in the water as a safe and secure environment for improving the health of the elderly is recommended.