Life-Styles and Aging: The Hungarian Case

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyöngyi Szabó Földesi

This paper is an analysis of the presence and the consequences of ageism and sexism in contemporary sport relative to Hungarian women. The major purposes are: (1) to consider some theoretical concerns about research on physical activity in the later years; (2) to examine how the double disadvantage of being old and female influences life-styles in connection with sport; (3) to review research relative to how and why sport is or is not an integral part of life-style of the 50+ age group of women in Hungary; (4) to present results of research carried out recently in Hungary on elderly people’s sport participation and their judgments of their own physical activity. Findings from a variety of studies were discussed, including 1987 and 1997 studies of the Budapest older population. Interview and questionnaire techniques were used to collect data relative to participation and interpretation of sport and physical activity. According to the findings, of the 1997 study, only 19% of women over 70 reported their health as satisfactory, compared with 5.6 % of the men. Lasting diseases were more frequent among women than among men (42.3 % versus 34.1 %). 38.8 % of females and 27.8 % of males aged 70-74 years cannot walk a distance of 2 kilometers; 47.1 % of females and 31.8 % of males in the same age groups are not able to ascend 10 stairsteps without taking a rest. Approximately 5 % of males over 60 and approximately 4% of females over 55 were physically active. It appears to the great majority of Hungarian older women that they are losers of the recent system change: because of growing poverty their life-chances have been worsening, their opportunities for choosing the components of their life-styles-including physical activity have narrowed and social distances within and between the individual age cohorts have increased, including sport participation. There is a need for rethinking attitudes and for increasing awareness of how physical fitness could keep Hungarians in all ages healthier, more independent and more optimistic.

Author(s):  
Katharina Diehl ◽  
Alessia Brassat ◽  
Jennifer Hilger-Kolb

Abstract Background To assess physical activity (PA), a comparative measurement – evaluating one’s own PA compared to others – may be an appropriate method. In previous studies, the use of comparative measurements led to an effect known as unrealistic comparative optimism (UCO) – people being unrealistically optimistic about their behavior. Our aim was to use this comparative measurement in university students to quantify the prevalence of UCO at the group level and to draw conclusions on its validity. Methods We used data from the Nutrition and Physical Activity in Adolescence Study (NuPhA), a cross-sectional online survey that included only self-reports (n = 689). To assess PA among students, they were asked to rate their PA level compared to that of their same-aged fellow students. In addition, we used the Godin-Shephard leisure-time PA questionnaire and other questions on PA for comparisons. We used bivariate and cluster-based analyses to identify potential UCO. Results We found that UCO at the group level led to an uneven distribution, with a higher proportion of students who rated themselves as being more physically active than average. However, the individual assessment of PA with a single and simple comparative question seemed to be valid. Discussion A global single comparative question seems useful for studies where PA is measured as a covariate in university students.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s2) ◽  
pp. S284-S290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Delisle Nyström ◽  
Christel Larsson ◽  
Bettina Ehrenblad ◽  
Hanna Eneroth ◽  
Ulf Eriksson ◽  
...  

Background:The 2016 Swedish Report Card on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Youth is a unique compilation of the existing physical and health related data in Sweden. The aim of this article is to summarize the procedure and results from the report card.Methods:Nationally representative surveys and individual studies published between 2005–2015 were included. Eleven PA and health indicators were graded using the Active Healthy Kids Canada grading system. Grades were assigned based on the percentage of children/youth meeting a defined benchmark (A: 81% to 100%, B: 61% to 80%, C: 41% to 60%, D: 21% to 40%, F: 0% to 20%, or incomplete (INC).Results:The assigned grades were Overall Physical Activity, D; Organized Sport Participation, B+; Active Play, INC; Active Transportation, C+; Sedentary Behaviors, C; Family and Peers, INC; School, C+; Community and the Built Environment, B; Government Strategies and Investments, B; Diet, C-; and Obesity, D.Conclusions:The included data provides some support that overall PA is too low and sedentary behavior is too high for almost all age groups in Sweden, even with the many national policies as well as an environment that is favorable to the promotion of PA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Jenkin ◽  
Jannique G. Z. van Uffelen ◽  
Grant O'Sullivan ◽  
Jack Harvey ◽  
Rochelle M. Eime ◽  
...  

Community sport is seen as a suitable setting for physical activity for different population groups. Older adults (aged 50+ years) are a rapidly growing population group. Physical activity is critical for healthy ageing, however sport participation rates for older adults are very low. The aim of this study was to investigate how sporting organisations perceive sport for older adults. This cross-sectional study surveyed 171 representatives from Australian National and State Sporting Organisations. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the results and the three sporting organisation categories' (high, medium, and low participation) responses were compared using non-parametric statistics. Contextualised in the perspective of organisational change, a framework for marketing to the ageing consumer was used to interpret the results. Older adults are not a high priority group for most sporting organisations, however the benefits of engaging older adults were recognised, particularly in context of increasing participation numbers. A lack of age-appropriate programmes was perceived to be a major barrier of engaging older adults. This lack of programmes stems from older adults being deemed as a less attractive segment than other age groups for sporting organisations. Modifications that sports felt they could make to attract and/or retain older adults included specific marketing and age appropriate opportunities. There was widespread consensus across sporting organisations, suggesting that perceptions of older adult sport participation were comparable across the sector, such as increasing participation numbers and engaging their older fan base. In the context of attracting, and retaining, older adults in sport clubs, it was concluded that most sporting organisations are not (yet) ready to build “age friendly” sporting environments. There is very limited literature on the organisational perspective of older adults and sport, meaning this study is unique in the field. Although sport policy encourages organisations to grow their participation, most organisations do not actively and strategically engage older adults. This research provides an understanding of why this untapped market is not a priority target and provides comprehensive insights for policy makers to better engage with this population group.


1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 709-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. L. Kanstrup ◽  
B. Ekblom

Five female and seven male physically active adults were studied twice within a 13-yr interval. The individual state of physical activity was mainly unchanged. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was reduced in all subjects except one female, in whom it remained unchanged. During maximal exercise, cardiac output (Q) in males was unchanged. In females, Q was significantly increased due to increased stroke volume (SV). In both sexes, the reduced VO2 max was explained by a smaller arteriovenous O2 difference (mixed venous O2 content (C-VO2) significantly increased). For a given submaximal VO2, Q was increased in both sexes and heart rate was unchanged. Thus, SV was increased and arteriovenous O2 difference was reduced due to increased C-VO2. Another four males were studied several times in various states of physical fitness during an 11-yr period. The reduced VO2 max from peak value was due to a reduced Qmax (SV smaller), whereas the arteriovenous O2 difference and C-VO2 were unchanged. Our results indicate that the observed changes in circulatory response to submaximal and maximal exercise in physically active adults may to a large extent be due to an effect of “detraining.”


Author(s):  
Lea Auhuber ◽  
Mandy Vogel ◽  
Nico Grafe ◽  
Wieland Kiess ◽  
Tanja Poulain

The objective of the present study was to give a detailed overview on the leisure behavior of adolescents (frequency, differences between gender, age groups and social class, time trends, and inter-relations). In total, 1449 10- to 18-year-old German adolescents were included in the study. Participants answered questionnaires about their media use, physical activity, outdoor time, engagement in choir/orchestra and theater/dancing, social life and socio-economic status (SES). The results revealed that girls, children with lower SES as well as older children reported to use screen-based media more often and that girls, older children and children with lower SES were less physically active. In addition, boys and children with lower SES engaged less frequently in choir/orchestra and theater/dancing, while children with higher SES met their friends more often. The time trend analysis showed that mobile phone use increased drastically from 2011 to 2017, while engagement in choir/orchestra and theater/dancing decreased. Regarding the inter-relation between leisure activities, high screen times were significantly associated with less physical activity and less outdoor time. Physical activity, in contrast, was significantly related to better social life and more outdoor time. These findings highlight the growing importance of electronic media in adolescents’ lives and their tendency to displace other leisure activities.


Author(s):  
M. Claire Buchan ◽  
Valerie Carson ◽  
Guy Faulkner ◽  
Wei Qian ◽  
Scott T. Leatherdale

This study aimed to determine if secondary school students are meeting the new Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24-MG), as well as each individual recommendation (physical activity; sleep; sedentary behavior) within the 24-MG, and which student-level characteristics predict meeting the 24-MG, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. This study is the first to examine longitudinal changes in students meeting the 24-MG, as well as student-level characteristics that were predictive of favourable shifts in movement patterns. Cross-sectional data were obtained for 11,793 grade 9 students across Canada as part of the COMPASS study. Of this sample, 3713 students provided linked follow-up data from grade 9 to grade 12. The probability of meeting the guidelines was modeled using two-level logistic regression analyses, adjusting for student-level co-variates and school clustering. Only 1.28% (p < 0.0001) of the sample met the overall 24-MG. Among grade 9 students, 35.9% (p < 0.0001), 50.8% (p < 0.0001), and 6.4% (p < 0.0001) were meeting the individual recommendations for physical activity, sleep, and screen time, respectively. Of those students, less than half were still meeting them by grade 12. Community sport participation was the only predictor of all three individual recommendations within the 24-MG. Longitudinal analyses found that community sport participation and parental support and encouragement were significantly associated with Grade 12 students starting to meet the physical activity and screen time recommendations, respectively, after having not met them in grade 9. Findings can be used to inform policy and public health practice, as well as to inform future research examining causal relationships between the variables.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 471-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arie Kapteyn ◽  
James Banks ◽  
Mark Hamer ◽  
James P Smith ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
...  

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) is important for maintaining health, but there are fundamental unanswered questions on how best it should be measured.MethodsWe measured PA in the Netherlands (n=748), the USA (n=540) and England (n=254), both by a 7 day wrist-worn accelerometer and by self-reports. The self-reports included a global self-report on PA and a report on the frequency of vigorous, moderate and mild activity.ResultsThe self-reported data showed only minor differences across countries and across groups within countries (such as different age groups or working vs non-working respondents). The accelerometer data, however, showed large differences; the Dutch and English appeared to be much more physically active than Americans h (For instance, among respondents aged 50 years or older 38% of Americans are in the lowest activity quintile of the Dutch distribution). In addition, accelerometer data showed a sharp decline of PA with age, while no such pattern was observed in self-reports. The differences between objective measures and self-reports occurred for both types of self-reports.ConclusionIt is clear that self-reports and objective measures tell vastly different stories, suggesting that across countries people use different response scales when answering questions about how physically active they are.


2000 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Curtis ◽  
Philip White ◽  
Barry McPherson

This study reports on age-group differences in leisure-time sport and physical activity involvement among a large sample of Canadians interviewed at 2 points during the 1980s. Comparisons are made for 5 age cohorts, for men and women, and without and with multivariate controls. The results contradict the usual finding of an inverse relationship between age and level of physical activity. On measures of (a) activity necessary to produce health benefits and (b) energy expenditure. Canadians over 65 were as active as, or more active than, their younger counterparts, and their activities did not decline over the 7 years between interviews. The extent of change varied by age and across women and men. Among women, increases in involvement were greatest in the middle-aged. Among men, the greatest increase was in the oldest age groups. For both genders, the youngest age cohort showed the smallest change over time, and there was evidence of slight declines in activity levels among young men.


Author(s):  
Luka Leško ◽  
Renata Barić ◽  
Anamaria Ivanko

The primary aim of the study was to examine the correlation between the physical activity level and three factors of sexual health in men (sexual desire, sexual function and sexual satisfaction). The sample consisted of 509 male students aged 18 to 30 (M=19.70; SD=1.38). The results suggest a significantly better erectile function and sexual satisfaction in sufficiently physically active compared to insufficiently physically active men, while no significance was found in sexual desire and premature ejaculation. The findings indicate that the level of physical activity is positively related to sexual health factors, regardless of whether the dominant aerobic or anaerobic type of physical activity is practiced. Men with higher number of exercise hours on weekly basis have higher sexual desire and better erectile function. Men who are more satisfied with their own body image, have better erectile function. Although previous studies point to positive correlation between physical activity and sexual health in older age groups, this study points to better sexual health of physically active men already in the student age.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-136
Author(s):  
Bruna Martinazzo Bortolini ◽  
Pedro Henrique de Carli Rodrigues ◽  
Lidiane Ura Afonso Brandão ◽  
Danielle Shima Luize ◽  
Gladson Ricardo Flor Bertolini ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is possible that physical activity protects the periodontium by mitigating excessive inflammatory response of the individual. There is some evidence from longitudinal studies and a prospective study demonstrating that physically active adults have experienced a decrease in the risk of periodontitis. To date no study has jointly explored the relationship of physical activity and periodontitis using inflammatory biomarkers. Objective: In this regard, the objective was to assess the bone tissue behavior of rats with experimental periodontitis subjected to aquatic exercise. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) without periodontitis and without exercise (CS); 2) without periodontitis and with exercise (CE); 3) with periodontitis and without exercise (DPS); 4) with periodontitis and with exercise (DPE). The animals from groups CE and DPE had swimming sessions for four weeks and the DPS and DPE groups were subjected to ligature-induced periodontitis. After 30 days the animals were sacrificed, and had their right and left hemimandibles removed for radiographic and histological analysis. The data obtained were analyzed and evaluated through ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: Bone loss in the animals from the DPE group was found to be significantly lower (61.7 ± 2.2; p <0.05) than in those from the DPS group (84.5 ± 1.2; p <0.05), while in terms of the number of osteoblasts (DPS=11.0 ± 1.4; DPE=10.7 ± 5.2) and osteocytes (DPS=17.3 ± 3.1; DPE=19.0 ± 4.4), there was no significant decrease (p <0.05) in the groups subjected to experimental periodontitis, regardless of physical exercise. Conclusion: Physical exercise was found to have a protective effect in relation to bone height and did not influence bone density. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.


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