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Physical exercise is associated with reduced cognitive frailty in community-dwelling older adults, partially mediated by self-efficacy

In a cross-sectional study of 563 community-dwelling older adults in China, the prevalence of cognitive frailty was 21.3%. Physical exercise was directly associated with cognitive frailty and indirectly through self-efficacy, with the mediation effect accounting for 35.17% of the total effect.

Last updated: Aug 25, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Association between physical exercise and cognitive frailty among community-dwelling older adults: the mediating role of self-efficacy.

observational

Liang D, Jia R, Wu Z, Fan T, Pan Y · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Not applicable (cross-sectional)
Intervention: Physical exercise (measured by PARS-3)
Outcome: Cognitive frailty (Fried Phenotype and MoCA)
Effect Size: Mediation effect 35.17% of total effect
Population: Community-dwelling older adults in Henan Province, China

Result:

PubMed: 42625706DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1903378

Mechanism Graph

Physical exercise is associated with lower cognitive frailty
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Physical exercise is associated with higher self-efficacy
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Higher self-efficacy is associated with lower cognitive frailty
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Self-efficacy partially mediates the association between physical exercise and cognitive frailty

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Convenience sampling may limit generalizability
  • ⚠Self-reported measures may introduce bias

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prevalence of cognitive frailty in this study?▼

The prevalence was 21.3% among community-dwelling older adults.

How much of the association between physical exercise and cognitive frailty is mediated by self-efficacy?▼

Self-efficacy mediated 35.17% of the total effect.

What was the study design?▼

It was a cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling.

What measures were used to assess physical exercise and self-efficacy?▼

Physical exercise was measured with the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), and self-efficacy with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES).

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References

  1. 1.Liang D, Jia R, Wu Z, Fan T, Pan Y. "Association between physical exercise and cognitive frailty among community-dwelling older adults: the mediating role of self-efficacy.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42625706 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1903378
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.