scholarly journals Sustaining or Declining Physical Activity: Reports from an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Older Adults

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Ruth Tappen ◽  
Edgar Ramos Vieira ◽  
Sareen S. Gropper ◽  
David Newman ◽  
Cassandre Horne
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical Activity Guideline ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The Us ◽  
Weekly Physical Activity ◽  
Over Time

Over 80% of adults in the US fail to meet the ≥150 min weekly physical activity guideline; 40% age ≥ 75 are entirely inactive. The study purpose was to understand the reasons why community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 60) from diverse backgrounds increase, sustain, or decline in their physical activity levels over time. Sixty-two older adults were interviewed. Two-thirds of the African Americans, 57% of the Afro-Caribbeans, and 50% of the European Americans reported being less active than 2–3 years ago. Reasons for activity decline included health issues (e.g., pain, shortness of breath), lack of time, interest, or motivation. Reasons for sustaining or increasing activity levels included meeting personal goals, having a purpose for remaining active, or feeling better when active (e.g., it is important to keep moving, good for the joints, going on a cruise). Themes identified were pride in maintaining activity, goal-driven activity, pushing oneself to get past pain or fatigue, and some confusion between social and physical activity in participant reports. The results indicate widespread acceptance that activity is beneficial, but that knowledge alone was insufficient to maintain activity levels over time unless individuals had a goal or purpose (“means to an end”) and could overcome their physical and psychological barriers to physical activity.

Predictors of Physical Activity Levels in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Multivariate Approach Based on a Socio-Ecological Framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koren L. Fisher ◽  
Elizabeth L. Harrison ◽  
Brenda G. Bruner ◽  
Joshua A. Lawson ◽  
Bruce A. Reeder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Home Care Services ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Nursing Home Care ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Cross Sectional

The purpose of this study was to explore cross-sectional relationships between self-reported physical activity (PA) and personal, social, and environmental factors in community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older. Accounting for clustering by neighborhood, generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between selected correlates and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) score while adjusting for confounders. Data for 601 participants were analyzed: 79% female, 37% married, mean age 76.8 (± 8.7) years, mean PASE score 112.6 (± 64.8). Age, living in seniors’ housing, using nursing/home care services, receiving encouragement to be active, and having benches available in the neighborhood were inversely associated with PASE. Self-efficacy, SF-12 score, PA barriers, social support, and the presence of trails showed positive associations. Several personal, social, and environmental factors associated with PA were identified. The inverse association between PA and living in seniors’ housing units should be considered when developing PA programs for older adults.

Relating Lifetime Activity Behavior to the Current Level of Physical Activity of Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Oliver Vogel ◽  
Daniel Niederer ◽  
Jan Wilke ◽  
Maike Steinmann ◽  
Lutz Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Estimation Errors ◽  
Metabolic Equivalent ◽  
Physical Activity Questionnaire ◽  
Metabolic Equivalent Of Task ◽  
Leisure Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

This study investigates methods of data gathering and management, along with the relationship of lifespan and older adults’ activity. Community-dwelling older adults (n = 47, 81.7 ± 3.6 years) completed the Lifetime Leisure Physical Activity Questionnaire. Current activity was assessed by use of accelerometers. The data were converted to the metabolic equivalent of task hours. Correlations between the main outcomes (metabolic equivalent of task/hour, Lifetime Leisure Physical Activity Questionnaire), as well as individual estimation errors for data adjustments, were computed. The accelerometer and Lifetime Leisure Physical Activity Questionnaire data for the last 12 months’ activity were associated (r = .31, p = .033). The average overestimation in the self-reported data was 176%. The adapted data on lifetime physical activity reveals correlations between older adults’ activity and the activity levels of three 15-year episodes (r = .354; r = .336; r = .323; each p < .05), as well as compliance with guidelines throughout life (Hotelling’s T2 = 45–164; p ≤ .002). Our findings indicate a relationship between lifetime and older adults’ activity and provide further support for lifelong engagement in physical activity.

scholarly journals Perceived somatic and affective barriers for self-efficacy and physical activity

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 1850-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M Warner ◽  
Julia K Wolff ◽  
Svenja M Spuling ◽  
Susanne Wurm
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Objective Health ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

According to Bandura’s social-cognitive theory, perceptions of somatic and affective barriers are sources of self-efficacy. This longitudinal study compares general indicators of health barriers with measures of perceived somatic and affective barriers to predict self-efficacy and accelerometer-assessed physical activity in a subsample of n = 153 (selected at random from N = 310) community-dwelling German older adults. Perceived somatic and affective barriers longitudinally predicted physical activity mediated by self-efficacy, whereas general health barriers did not. Perceived health barriers to physical activity might be more important than more objective health barriers for older adults’ physical activity levels.

Profile of Physical Activity Levels in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1774-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
KAREN E. CHAD ◽  
BRUCE A. REEDER ◽  
ELIZABETH L. HARRISON ◽  
NIGEL L. ASHWORTH ◽  
SUZANNE M. SHEPPARD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

scholarly journals Physical activity levels of older community-dwelling adults are influenced by summer weather variables

2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin A. Brandon ◽  
Dawn P. Gill ◽  
Mark Speechley ◽  
Jason Gilliland ◽  
Gareth R. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Weather Variables ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Adequate daily physical activity (PA) is important for maintaining functional capacity and independence in older adults. However, most older adults in Canada do not engage in enough PA to sustain fitness and functional independence. Environmental influences, such as warmer daytime temperatures, may influence PA participation; however, few studies have examined the effect of summertime temperatures on PA levels in older adults. This investigation measured the influence of summertime weather variables on PA in 48 community-dwelling older adults who were randomly recruited from a local seniors’ community centre. Each participant wore an accelerometer for a single 7-consecutive-day period (between 30 May and 9 August 2006) during waking hours, and completed a PA logbook to remark on major daily PA events. Local weather variables were collected from a national weather service and compared with PA counts per minute. Regression analysis revealed a curvilinear relationship between log-transformed PA and mean daily temperature (r2 = 0.025; p < 0.05). Linear mixed effects models that accounted for repeated measures nested within individuals were performed for monthly periods, meteorological variables, sex, age, and estimated maximal oxygen consumption, with PA as the dependent variable. Age and Air Quality Index remained significant variables within the model. Higher fitness levels had no effect on allowing individuals to perform more vigorous PA in warmer temperatures.

scholarly journals The Benefits of Physical Activity on Indicators of Cardiovascular Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Hypertension in Korea: A Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Ah Ahn ◽  
Deulle Min
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Uncontrolled Hypertension ◽  
Group I ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Purpose: The study aimed to explore the effects of physical activity on indicators for cardiovascular risk in a sample of community-dwelling older adults with hypertension.Methods: This longitudinal study used data collected from the Elderly Cohort Database of the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea between 2002 and 2013. Participants included 10,588 older adults (≥ 60 years) with hypertension. Data assessing self-reported physical activity, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, body mass index, and total cholesterol levels throughout the 12-year study were extracted from the original database and analyzed. Participants were categorized into 4 groups based on the reported changes in physical activity over time; Group I (totally inactive), II (inactive to active), III (active to inactive), and IV (totally active). Cox proportional hazard model was used to confirm the risk of cardiovascular indicators over time in each group.Results: Participants’ mean age was 64.2 years in the initial year of 2002. The number of participants in Groups I, II, III, and IV was 4032, 2697, 1919, and 1940, respectively. Group IV showed a significant decline in risk for uncontrolled hypertension compared to Group I (HR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.800-0.948]). Group II showed a significant decrease in risk for uncontrolled diabetes compared to Group I (HR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.888-0.999]).Conclusions: Physical activity is an essential non-pharmacological and self-management intervention that can be easily implemented among older adults with hypertension. Healthcare providers should be aware of the importance of older adults’ physical activity and encourage them to perform and maintain it steadily for better long-term cardio-metabolic outcomes.

Understanding temporal relationships between depression, falls, and physical activity in a cohort of post-hospitalized older adults – a breakthrough or a conundrum?

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 1681-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Den-Ching A. Lee ◽  
Aislinn F. Lalor ◽  
Grant Russell ◽  
Rene Stolwyk ◽  
Ted Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Temporal Relationships ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

ABSTRACTBackground:Clinical depression affects approximately 15% of community-dwelling older adults, of which half of these cases present in later life. Falls and depressive symptoms are thought to co-exist, while physical activity may protect an older adult from developing depressive symptoms. This study investigates the temporal relationships between depressive symptoms, falls, and participation in physical activities amongst older adults recently discharged following extended hospitalization.Methods:A prospective cohort study in which 311 older adults surveyed prior to hospital discharge were assessed monthly post-discharge for six months. N = 218 completed the six-month follow-up. Participants were recruited from hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. The survey instrument used was designed based on Fiske's behavioral model depicting onset and maintenance of depression. The baseline survey collected data on self-reported falls, physical activity levels, and depressive symptoms. The monthly follow-up surveys repeated measurement of these outcomes.Results:At any assessment point, falls were positively associated with depressive symptoms; depressive symptoms were negatively associated with physical activity levels; and, physical activity levels were negatively associated with falls. When compared with data in the subsequent assessment point, depressive symptoms were positively associated with falls reported over the next month (unadjusted OR: 1.20 (1.12, 1.28)), and physical activity levels were negatively associated with falls reported over the next month (unadjusted OR: 0.97 (0.96, 0.99) household and recreational), both indicating a temporal relationship.Conclusion:Falls, physical activity, and depressive symptoms were inter-associated, and depressive symptoms and low physical activity levels preceded falls. Clear strategies for management of these interconnected problems remain elusive.

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