The restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic left many older adults isolated and confined. Under active aging theory, self-management is crucial for well-being among older adults coping with aging. The current between–within subject quasi-experimental study examines how (a) initial self-management and (b) changes in self-management due to independent physical training affect psychological outcomes in a sample of care home residents following the outbreak of the pandemic. A total of 64 older adults (53 females, 11 males), with mean age of 82.23, reported on their self-management abilities and then embarked on six months of training in chair exercises (one session per week). The training exercises were halted after 22 sessions due to the pandemic, but some residents continued to practice independently. Eight weeks after the outbreak of the pandemic, residents who had continued to practice at least once per week (n = 35) and those who had not continued to practice (n = 29) were questioned again about their self-management and about five psychological outcomes: anxiety, traumatic stress, satisfaction, general mood, and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Self-management improved among older adults who independently practiced the exercises, and it declined among those who did not. Pre-pandemic self-management significantly predicted post-outbreak traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, general mood, and satisfaction with life, but not PTG. However, the difference in self-management between the pre-pandemic and post-outbreak measures was associated with PTG, and made a unique contribution to prediction of the other effects. Self-management abilities among older adults can be seen as a protective factor against adverse psychological outcomes in times of trauma. Further, the improvement in self-management among older adults who independently practiced physical exercises made a unique contribution beyond initial self-management abilities.

Active aging is a broad concept in the sociology of aging. It emphasizes the links between health and activity and aging healthily (WHO, 2001a). As a strategy, active aging is to maximize everyone 's potential to improve their individual quality of life. Self-management is a concept to which the idea of active aging is applied. This theory is used in many intervention. Self-management in aging relates to people 's involvement in initiating progressive actions that will prepare them for aging. The Body Management in Safe Ranges (BMSR) program is a self-management program for aging. BMSR uses functional task (FT) movement as a means for managing aging, strengthens participants ' self-efficacy, supports cognitive-motor strategies and movement in safe ranges. We use quasi experiment 2x2x2 design: intervention (experiment - control) X time (before-after) X group (community-retirement residence). For collecting data were used self-management questionnaire (SMAS-30), general self-efficacy questionnaire, BMSR questionnaire (BMSR-21) created for the current study. A significant improvement was found in the intervention group compared to the control group. No difference was found between social networks. Significant improvements were seen in program participants' reports about their physical abilities and condition, as well as their perceptions of the program, self-efficacy and additional factors encouraging them to improve their day-to-day functional abilities. The higher the final BMSR score given, the better their self-management abilities and self-efficacy. It was found that positive change to managing their bodies in safe ranges correlated to positive changes in self-management and self-efficacy ranges. BMSR is an independent factor that does not depend on social networks and environment or on participants' starting condition (age, amount of physical exercise, pain levels), can be carried out in varied framework, physical conditions, and abilities for which further research is needed. Changes seen in self-management and self-efficacy measurements in the intervention groups indicate that the BMSR program can serve as a self-management program in old age using movement as a means.

The restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic left many older adults isolated and confined. Under active aging theory, self-management is crucial for well-being among older adults coping with aging. The current study examines how (a) initial self-management, and (b) changes in self-management due to independent physical training, affect psychological outcomes in a sample of care home residents following outbreak of the pandemic. 64 older adults (53 females, 11 males), mean age is 82.23, reported on their self-management abilities, then embarked on six months of training in chair exercises (one session per week). The training exercises were halted after 22 sessions due to the pandemic, but some residents continued to practice independently. Eight weeks after the outbreak of the pandemic, residents who had continued to practice at least once per week (n = 35) and those who had not continued to practice (n = 29) were questioned again about their self-management, and about five psychological outcomes: anxiety, traumatic stress, satis-faction, general mood, and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Self-management improved among older adults who independently practiced the exercises, and declined among those who did not. Pre-pandemic self-management significantly predicted post-outbreak traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, general mood, and satisfaction with life, but not PTG. However, the difference in self-management between the pre-pandemic and post-outbreak measures was associated with PTG, and made a unique contribution to prediction of the other effects. Self-management abilities among older adults can be seen as a protective factor against adverse psychological outcomes at times of trauma. Further, the improvement in self-management among older adults who independently practiced physical excises made a unique contribution beyond initial self-management abilities.