Retirement and Physical Activity: The Opportunity of a Lifetime or the Beginning of the End?

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-375
Author(s):  
Rajni Rai ◽  
Michelle I. Jongenelis ◽  
Ben Jackson ◽  
Robert U. Newton ◽  
Simone Pettigrew
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Life Transition ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Adaptation Processes

Retirement has been identified as a life transition that is important in determining older adults’ physical activity levels. The present study examined the factors associated with retirement that affect physical activity participation among older adults. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 425 retired Australians aged 60 years and older. Physical activity was assessed objectively, using accelerometers. Two categories of factors affecting physical activity participation following retirement were identified: the various physical and psychological changes in later life that can encourage or discourage physical activity and the adaptation processes undertaken by older people in response to these changes. The adoption of either a gain or loss approach to retirement and aging appeared to be the most influential adaptation factor affecting physical activity participation. The results suggest that intervention approaches should aim to foster more positive attitudes to aging and retirement and promote physical activity at all stages in life.

scholarly journals (Re)conceptualising physical activity participation as career

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria J. Palmer ◽  
James Bowness ◽  
Emmanuelle Tulle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Participation Rates ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Biological Ageing ◽  
Public Health Messages

Abstract Physical activity is increasingly positioned as playing an important role in preventing and mitigating many of the decrements associated with biological ageing. As a result, public health messages encourage older people to remain active in later life. Despite this, physical activity participation rates among older adults are low. This may be in part related to the conventional approach to understanding physical activity participation as a product of motivation. We contend that this approach does not allow for a deeper exploration of the wider structural, historical and discursive contexts in which physical activity participation occurs. Therefore, we propose that physical activity can be reconceptualised as a career. Through a synthesis of findings from four studies exploring physical activity experiences in later life, we demonstrate that beginning and maintaining a physical activity career requires a disposition towards physical activity, the legitimation of physically active practices and dealing with contingencies. In addition, we demonstrate that maintaining a physical activity career requires investment and deliberation to adapt physical activity practices continually within an individual's own personal biography. As such, we conclude that current strategies to promote physical activity to older adults are unlikely to result in increased levels of participation. To promote physical activity to older adults an understanding of how structural, cultural and historical contexts influence participation is needed.

scholarly journals Using formative research with older adults to inform a community physical activity programme: Get Healthy, Get Active

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Sanders ◽  
Brenda Roe ◽  
Zoe R. Knowles ◽  
Axel Kaehne ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Retirement Home

Abstract Aim The purpose of this formative study was to explore current knowledge and attitudes towards physical activity, as well as perceived barriers, facilitators and opportunities for physical activity participation among older adults living in the community. The findings have subsequently informed the design, delivery and recruitment strategies of a local community physical activity intervention programme which forms part of Sport England’s national Get Healthy, Get Active initiative. Background There is a growing public health concern regarding the amount of time spent in sedentary and physical activity behaviours within the older adult population. Methods Between March and June 2016, 34 participants took part in one of six focus groups as part of a descriptive formative study. A homogenous purposive sample of 28 community dwelling white, British older adults (six male), aged 65–90 years (M=78, SD=7 years) participated in one of five focus group sessions. An additional convenience pragmatic sub-sample of six participants (three male), aged 65–90 years (M=75, SD=4 years), recruited from an assisted living retirement home participated in a sixth focus group. Questions for focus groups were structured around the PRECEDE stage of the PRECEDE–PROCEDE model of health programme design, implementation and evaluation. Questions addressed knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards physical activity, as well as views on barriers and opportunities for physical activity participation. All data were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was then conducted with outcomes represented as pen profiles. Findings Consistent views regarding both the potential physical and psychosocial benefits of physical activity were noted regardless of living status. The themes of, opportunities and awareness for physical activity participation, cost, transport, location and season/weather varied between participants living in an assisted living retirement home and community dwelling older adults. Further comparative research on the physical activity requirements of older adults living in assisted living versus community settings are warranted.

The Utility of Physical Activity Micro-Grants: The ParticipACTION Teen Challenge Program

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subha Ramanathan ◽  
Lauren White ◽  
Alicia Luciani ◽  
Tanya R. Berry ◽  
Sameer Deshpande ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Environmental Resources ◽  
Teen Challenge ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Youth Physical Activity ◽  
Community Organizers

Youth physical activity levels remain low in Canada and worldwide. Lack of environmental resources (e.g., access to equipment and facilities, transportation options, and participation costs) is a key barrier for youth participation. Micro-grants are small budgets of money awarded via grant applications and may help community organizations facilitate youth physical activity participation by alleviating environmental resource barriers. ParticipACTION Teen Challenge was a national micro-grant scheme administered in Canada. Secondary analysis of survey data from Provincial and Territorial coordinators, registered community organizers, and successful grant applicants were used to evaluate the process and outcomes of Teen Challenge. Results showed that the financial subsidy of 500CAD was used mainly toward equipment, instruction, and transportation. Coordinators and community organizers indicated high levels of satisfaction and benefits for communities and teens. A key benefit for coordinators was leveraging the Teen Challenge network for physical activity promotion. Reported benefits for teenaged participants included leadership opportunities (e.g., helping create and implement programs) and increased physical activity participation. Findings highlight the value of micro-grants for supporting sport and physical activity opportunities for Canadian teens, and show that such schemes address barriers related to environmental resources. The sustainability of micro-grant schemes remains to be seen.

Aging Expectations are Associated With Physical Activity and Health Among Older Adults of Low Socioeconomic Status

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Dogra ◽  
Ban Al-Sahab ◽  
James Manson ◽  
Hala Tamim
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Aging Expectations

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether aging expectations (AE) are associated with physical activity participation and health among older adults of low socioeconomic status (SES). A cross-sectional analysis of a sample of 170 older adults (mean age 70.9 years) was conducted. Data on AE, physical activity, and health were collected using the 12 item Expectations Regarding Aging instrument, the Healthy Physical Activity Participation Questionnaire, and the Short Form-36, respectively. Adjusted linear regression models showed significant associations between AE and social functioning, energy/vitality, mental health, and self-rated general health, as well as physical activity. These results suggest that AE may help to better explain the established association between low SES, low physical activity uptake, and poor health outcomes among older adults.

Barriers to Physical Activity Participation in Older Adults

2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S322
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Kolt ◽  
Janis E. Paterson ◽  
Narender K. Chadha ◽  
Vivian Y.M. Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Barriers To Physical Activity

Community-Based Exergaming Program Increases Physical Activity and Perceived Wellness in Older Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara A. Strand ◽  
Sarah L. Francis ◽  
Jennifer A. Margrett ◽  
Warren D. Franke ◽  
Marc J. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Perceived Wellness ◽  
Rural Older Adults

Exergaming may be an effective strategy to increase physical activity participation among rural older adults. This pilot project examined the effects of a 24-wk exergaming and wellness program (8 wk onsite exergaming, 16-wk wellness newsletter intervention) on physical activity participation and subjective health in 46 rural older adults. Sociodemographic data and self-reported physical activity were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Cochran’s Q, respectively. Qualitative data were reviewed, categorized on the basis of theme, and tabulated for frequency. Increased physical activity and perceived health were the most reported perceived positive changes. Significant increases in physical activity participation were maintained among participants who were physically inactive at baseline. Best-liked features were physical activity and socialization. Findings suggest that this pilot exergaming and wellness program is effective in increasing physical activity in sedentary rural older adults, increasing socialization, and increasing subjective physical health among rural older adults.

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