Older adults’ construal of sedentary behaviour: Implications for reducing sedentary behaviour in older adult populations

Older adults are the most sedentary age group, with sedentary behaviour having negative health-related consequences. There is currently limited understanding of how older adults view sedentary behaviour. This study investigated older adults’ understanding of the concept of sedentary behaviour. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 community-dwelling older adults in urban North-West England, selected to be diverse in socio-economic background and activity levels. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted. Participants often construed sedentary behaviour as synonymous with a lack of physical activity, and many perceived reducing sedentary behaviour and increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to be the same thing. Participants perceived the term ‘sedentary’ to have negative connotations and were often judgemental of people who engaged in high levels of sedentary behaviour. Most participants considered reducing sedentary behaviour to be of value, though more active individuals were unconvinced that reducing sedentary behaviour has value beyond the benefits of being physically active. Interventions may wish to provide education to address the misconception that increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is necessary in order to reduce sedentary behaviour. Educating older adults on the independent health consequences of sedentary behaviour may also prove beneficial.

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Profiles of Loneliness and Social Isolation in Physically Active and Inactive Older Adults in Rural England

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18083971 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 3971

Author(s):

Jolanthe de Koning ◽

Suzanne H. Richards ◽

Grace E. R. Wood ◽

Afroditi Stathi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Social Contact ◽

Physical Activity Behaviour ◽

Rural Setting ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Physically Active

Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality and physical inactivity in older age. This study explored the socioecological context in which both physically active and inactive older adults experience loneliness and/or social isolation in a UK rural setting. Design: A mixed-methods design employed semi structured interviews and accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Interviews explored the personal, social and environmental factors influencing engagement with physical activities, guided by an adapted-socioecological model of physical activity behaviour. Findings: Twenty-four older adults (MeanAge = 73 (5.8 SD); 12 women) were interviewed. Transcripts were thematically analysed and seven profiles of physical activity, social isolation and loneliness were identified. The high-MVPA group had established PA habits, reported several sources of social contact and evaluated their physical environment as activity friendly. The low MVPA group had diverse experiences of past engagement in social activities. Similar to the high MVPA, they reported a range of sources of social contact but they did not perceive the physical environment as activity friendly. Conclusions: Loneliness and/or social isolation was reported by both physically active and inactive older adults. There is wide diversity and complexity in types and intensity of PA, loneliness and social isolation profiles and personal, social and environmental contexts.

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513Ophthalmic disease and older adults’ sedentary and physically-active behaviors: Findings from the NEIGE study

International Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/ije/dyab168.038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Shiho Amagasa ◽

Shigeru Inoue ◽

Hiroshi Murayama ◽

Takeo Fujiwara ◽

Hiroyuki Kikuchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physically Active ◽

Reciprocal Influences

Abstract Background Physical inactivity can be associated adversely with markers of eye health, but little is known about how ophthalmic disease (OD) may be related to sedentary behaviour (SB) and different intensities of physical activity in older adults. We compared device-assessed time spent in SB, light-intensity PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between older adults with and without OD. Methods A randomly-recruited sample of 512 community-dwelling older adults (47% male; aged 65–84 years) in Japan wore a valid tri-axial accelerometer for seven consecutive days in 2017. Prevalence of OD was assessed by medical interview. Times spent in SB, LPA, and MVPA were compared between those with and without OD by compositional multivariate analysis of covariance, adjusting for potential confounders (gender, age, residential area, living arrangement, working, body mass index, self-rated health, and cognitive function). Results Overall, percent times spent in SB, LPA, and MVPA during waking hours were 51.0, 44.6, and 4.4, respectively; and, 167 (36.5%) had OD. Activity patterns differed significantly between those with and without OD: in those with OD, the proportion of time spent in MVPA relative to other behaviours was lower, and the proportion of time spent in SB relative to other behaviours was higher. Conclusions Older adults with OD were found to be less physically active than those without. Key messages While these cross-sectional findings need to be confirmed by evidence from prospective studies, the reciprocal influences of OD and inactivity in older adults should be addressed as scientific, clinical and public health considerations.

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THE INFLUENCE OF LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS ON THE INCIDENCE OF FRAILTY

Journal of Frailty & Aging ◽

10.14283/jfa.2019.37 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

M.G. BORDA ◽

M.U. PÉREZ-ZEPEDA ◽

R. SAMPER-TERNENT ◽

R.C. GÓMEZ ◽

J.A. AVILA-FUNES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Frailty Index ◽

Population Based ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Clinical State ◽

Physically Active ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Healthy Behaviors ◽

Health Related

Background: Frailty is a clinical state defined as an increase in an individual’s vulnerability to developing adverse health-related outcomes. Objectives: We propose that healthy behaviors could lower the incidence of frailty. The aim is to describe the association between healthy behaviors (physical activity, vaccination, tobacco use, and cancer screening) and the incidence of frailty. Design: This is a secondary longitudinal analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) cohort. Setting: MHAS is a population-based cohort, of community-dwelling Mexican older adults. With five assessments currently available, for purposes of this work, 2012 and 2015 waves were used. Participants: A total of 6,087 individuals 50-year or older were included. Measurements: Frailty was defined using a 39-item frailty index. Healthy behaviors were assessed with questions available in MHAS. Individuals without frailty in 2012 were followed-up three years in order to determine their frailty incidence, and its association with healthy behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the odds of frailty occurring according to the four health-related behaviors mentioned above. Results: At baseline (2012), 55.2% of the subjects were male, the mean age was 62.2 (SD ± 8.5) years old. The overall incidence (2015) of frailty was 37.8%. Older adults physically active had a lower incidence of frailty (48.9% vs. 42.2%, p< 0.0001). Of the activities assessed in the adjusted multivariate models, physical activity was the only variable that was independently associated with a lower risk of frailty (odds ratio: 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.88, p< 0.001). Conclusions: Physically active older adults had a lower 3-year incidence of frailty even after adjusting for confounding variables. Increasing physical activity could therefore represent a strategy for reducing the incidence of frailty. Other so-called healthy behaviors were not associated with incident frailty, however there is still uncertainty on the interpretation of those results.

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Factors influencing physical activity participation among older people with low activity levels

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x1900076x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (12) ◽

pp. 2593-2613 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rajni Rai ◽

Michelle I. Jongenelis ◽

Ben Jackson ◽

Robert U. Newton ◽

Simone Pettigrew

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older People ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Activity Promotion ◽

Low Activity

AbstractDespite the well-documented health benefits of physical activity in older adults, participation levels remain low. With rapid global population ageing, intensive efforts are needed to encourage higher levels of participation to ameliorate the negative effects of physical inactivity for older individuals and society as a whole. The aim of this qualitative study was to inform future physical activity promotion interventions by examining factors contributing to low activity levels among older people undertaking less than half the recommended level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 102 (65% female) community-dwelling Western Australians aged 60+ years (mean = 71.52, standard deviation = 6.26) who engaged in ⩽75 minutes of MVPA per week as measured by accelerometers. Several modifiable and unmodifiable barriers were identified, of which poor health featured most prominently. Lifetime physical inactivity, caring duties, low motivation, misperceptions of physical activity and ageing, and a lack of affordable and attractive options were the other barriers identified. The results suggest that strategies are needed to raise awareness of current physical activity guidelines, normalise engagement in MVPA throughout the lifespan, develop initiatives to motivate participation, improve the availability of affordable physical activity programmes that are attractive to this population segment, and facilitate participation among those with intensive caring responsibilities.

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A Survey of Physical-Activity Levels and Functional Capacity in Older Adults in South Australia

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.10.3.281 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 281-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Phil Hamdorf ◽

Gary Starr ◽

Mark Williams

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

South Australia ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Age Group ◽

Physically Active ◽

Random Digit Dialing ◽

Random Digit

Participation in physical activity declines with advancing age for a variety of reasons. The aim of this study was to assess the level of physical activity among older South Australians. Computer-aided telephone interviewing of 773 adults age 60 years and over was conducted using random-digit dialing. Rates of participation among adults age 60 years and over in walking and vigorous physical activity (68.1% and 11.7%, respectively) were significantly lower than for those age 18–59 years (77.6% and 38.9%, respectively). Walking was the most popular activity among those age 60 and over. The proportion reporting no physical activity rose from 7.0% in the 60- to 64-year age group to 25.7% in the 85+ group. The findings describe increases in physical inactivity coupled with declines in functional ability with advancing age and suggest that much work remains to fully understand how best to encourage older adults to remain physically active.

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Older adults’ evaluations of the standard and modified pedometer-based Green Prescription

Journal of Primary Health Care ◽

10.1071/hc19007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Asmita Patel ◽

Grant M. Schofield ◽

Gregory S. Kolt ◽

Justin W. L. Keogh

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Postal Survey ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Care Programme ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Insufficient Physical Activity ◽

Health Related

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTIONThe Green Prescription is a primary care programme designed to increase physical activity in individuals with low activity levels. Older adults tend to engage in insufficient physical activity to obtain health-related gain. AIMTo examine participants’ ratings of the Healthy Steps intervention and to assess how participants rated the use of a pedometer-based Green Prescription in aiding their physical activity. METHODSIn total, 330 community-dwelling older adults who have low levels of activity were randomised to receive either a standard time-based Green Prescription or a modified pedometer-based Green Prescription. Post-intervention, 259 participants completed the participant evaluation questionnaire via postal survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-squared analyses. RESULTSThe standard components of the Green Prescription (general practitioner consultations and telephone counselling) received similar and higher ratings across both allocation groups than the use of print materials. A pedometer-based Green Prescription was rated as being helpful in aiding physical activity. DISCUSSIONThis study supports the importance of general practitioners’ initial role in prescribing physical activity for older adults and of ongoing telephone support for longer-term adherence. Incorporating a pedometer can be effective in helping low-active older adults initiate and maintain regular physical activity.

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Association of Self-Reported and Device-Measured Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity with Health-Related Quality of Life among European Older Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182413252 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 13252

Author(s):

Oriol Sansano-Nadal ◽

Maria Giné-Garriga ◽

Beatriz Rodríguez-Roca ◽

Myriam Guerra-Balic ◽

Kelly Ferri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Composite Score ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Human movement behaviours such as physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) during waking time have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults. In this study, we aimed to analyse the association between self-reported and device-measured SB and PA with HRQoL in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults from four European countries. A subsample of 1193 participants from the SITLESS trial (61% women and 75.1 ± 6.2 years old) were included in the analysis. The association between self-reported and objective measures of SB and PA with HRQoL were quantified using Spearman’s Rho coefficients. The strength of the associations between self-reported and device-measured PA and SB with self-rated HRQoL (mental composite score, MCS; physical composite score, PCS) were assessed through multivariate multiple regression analysis. Self-reported and device-measured PA and SB levels showed significant but poor associations with PCS (p < 0.05). The association with MCS was only significant but poor with self-reported light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that both self-reported and device-measured PA of all intensities were positively and significantly associated, while SB was negatively and significantly associated with the PCS of the SF-12.

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The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation and Self-Efficacy on Physical Activity Change in Community-Dwelling Older Adults (≥65 Years): An Experimental Cross-Lagged Analysis Using Data From SITLESS

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0322 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Ilona I. McMullan ◽

Brendan P. Bunting ◽

Nicole E. Blackburn ◽

Jason J. Wilson ◽

Manuela Deidda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Objective Measure ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Health Concern ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Improving the capacity for physical activity interventions to maintain behavior change is a key public health concern and an important strategy for the health and independence of older adults. Ways of ensuring effective maintenance of physical activity levels in older adults are unclear. This study includes the objective measure of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); self-reported self-efficacy; and self-regulation at four timepoints (baseline, intervention completion at 4 months, 12-, and 18-month follow-up) from the SITLESS study, a clinical trial conducted with a cohort of community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) from Denmark, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. A cross-lagged analysis found that self-regulation and self-efficacy may be key determinants of MVPA behavior in community-dwelling older adults. More specifically, the use of behavioral support strategies represents an important correlate of MVPA behavior, and its association with MVPA may be mediated by self-regulation and self-efficacy in older adults in the short and long term.

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Association of daily composition of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with incidence of cardiovascular disease in older adults

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity ◽

10.1186/s12966-021-01157-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Manasa S. Yerramalla ◽

Duncan E. McGregor ◽

Vincent T. van Hees ◽

Aurore Fayosse ◽

Aline Dugravot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Movement Behaviour ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Daily Movement ◽

Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Current Duration

Abstract Background Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is proposed as key for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prevention. At older ages, the role of sedentary behaviour (SB) and light intensity physical activity (LIPA) remains unclear. Evidence so far is based on studies examining movement behaviours as independent entities ignoring their co-dependency. This study examines the association between daily composition of objectively-assessed movement behaviours (MVPA, LIPA, SB) and incident CVD in older adults. Methods Whitehall II accelerometer sub-study participants free of CVD at baseline (N = 3319, 26.7% women, mean age = 68.9 years in 2012–2013) wore a wrist-accelerometer from which times in SB, LIPA, and MVPA during waking period were extracted over 7 days. Compositional Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for incident CVD for daily compositions of movement behaviours characterized by 10 (20 or 30) minutes greater duration in one movement behaviour accompanied by decrease in another behaviour, while keeping the third behaviour constant, compared to reference composition. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, cardiometabolic risk factors and multimorbidity index. Results Of the 3319 participants, 299 had an incident CVD over a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.2 (1.3) years. Compared to daily movement behaviour composition with MVPA at recommended 21 min per day (150 min/week), composition with additional 10 min of MVPA and 10 min less SB was associated with smaller risk reduction – 8% (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87–0.99) – than the 14% increase in risk associated with a composition of similarly reduced time in MVPA and more time in SB (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02–1.27). For a given MVPA duration, the CVD risk did not differ as a function of LIPA and SB durations. Conclusions Among older adults, an increase in MVPA duration at the expense of time in either SB or LIPA was found associated with lower incidence of CVD. This study lends support to public health guidelines encouraging increase in MVPA or at least maintain MVPA at current duration.

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