Psycho-social correlates of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among older adults: a multivariate analysis

How Perceptions of Aging Influence Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Age: Exploring the Behavior of People Aged 70+ Years Engaged in Fall Prevention Activities

For older people, physical inactivity increases fall risk as well as other preventable health conditions. Despite the well-documented benefits of physical activity, uptake and adherence continue to challenge efforts aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing falls. Nested within a randomized controlled trial, this study reports on the factors influencing the physical activity behavior of people, aged between 70 and 90 years, engaged in StandingTall, a home-based balance exercise program proven to reduce falls in the community. The perception of aging, physical activity in older age, and the delivery of exercise were identified as major themes, with the perception of aging an overarching theme influencing both preferences for physical activity in older age and exercise delivery. Findings demonstrate the importance of considering the role of aging, the influence aging has on physical activity and exercise behavior, and how aging influences the delivery and design of exercise programs including falls prevention activities for older people.

Social support and economic conditions among older migrants in India: do distance, duration, and streams of migration play a role in later life?

BACKGROUND

Being older and having a migrant feature might cause a double risk of vulnerability in poor economic, social support, and health status at the place of destination. This study examines the association of migration on the social support and economic condition of older persons in India.

METHODS

Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) wave-I (2017-2018) data with total samples of 66,156 older adults aged 45 + with 30,869 and 35,287 male and female samples, respectively, used in this study. Descriptive and bivariate analyses have been performed to examine the pattern of older migrants, and multinomial logistic regression analysis has been used to establish the associations between migration, social support, and economic condition.

RESULTS

Over half (57.5%) of the population aged 45 + in India had migrant characteristics; 80% migrated before 25 years. Of all migrants, about 90% migrated within one state (Intrastate), and 9% migrated to another (Interstate). The association between social support and migration by distance and the adjusted result showed that immigrants were less likely to have medium [RRR = 0.56 (CI; 0.46-0.68)] and high [RRR = 0.39 (CI; 0.30-0.50)] social support. The interstate migrants were also less likely to have high [RRR = 0.90 (CI; 0.83-0.98)] social support. The migrants with 0-9 years of duration were less likely to have high social support, and the urban to rural stream migrants were more likely to have high social support. The association between economic status and migration by distance and the adjusted result showed that more affluent immigrants were likelier to have [RRR = 1.41 (CI; 1.14-1.73)] better economic conditions than affluent non-migrants. Migrants with 0-9-year duration and urban to rural stream were found to be likelier to have better economic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggest that distance, duration, and migration stream have a significant association with social support and economic conditions in later life. In exploring migration's effect on social and economic status, policymakers should prioritize migrants in their agenda to maintain socio-economic and social support for older persons in India to achieve the sustainable goal of active and healthy ageing.

The longitudinal relationship between levels of leisure-time physical activity and positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults with mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal impact of different levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation on positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS

This study used 2012 to 2020 data from the Health and Retirement Study data (n = 1206) that was analyzed using repeated measured multivariate analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

The high-level participation LTPA group reported higher positive affect and lower negative affect than the mid and low-level participation groups. The mid-level LTPA group also reported higher positive and lower negative affect than the low-level LTPA group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that high levels of LTPA participation contribute to an increase in positive affect and a reduction of negative affect among older foreign-born adults with MCI. The findings of this study will help fill the gap in research on the longitudinal relationship between levels of LTPA participation and positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults.

Daily activity patterns in older adults receiving initial support: the association between daily steps and sitting in bouts of at least 60 min

BACKGROUND

Aging has a significant impact on health, underlining the importance of maintaining physical function and reducing time spent sitting among older adults. To understand how to reduce prolonged sitting or increase physical activity, factors related to the daily living and observed daily activity patterns should be explored. This study aimed to investigate the association between daily steps, self-rated health, physical activity, sedentary behavior, motivation to exercise and fear of falling among older adults receiving initial support.

METHOD

Cross-sectional design with total population questionnaire data from adults aged ≥ 60 years (n = 917), living at home with initial support from municipal care in southern Sweden. The older adults were offered to participate in a follow-up study measuring daily activity patterns with accelerometers (n = 72). Linear regression was used to analyze associations between daily steps and possible predictors.

RESULTS

The linear model ([Formula: see text]0.478) showed that sitting in unbroken bouts of > 60 min (β = -0.313, p < 0.05), walking independently outdoors (β = 0.301, p < 0.05), intending to increase physical activity (β = -0.294, p < 0.05), sex (β = 0.279, p < 0.05), relative autonomy index (β = 0.258, p < 0.05), fear of falling (β = -0.238, p < 0.05), and self-rated health (β = 0.213, p < 0.05) predicted daily steps.

CONCLUSION

The model of predictors brings new understanding regarding daily steps among community-dwelling older adults. The association between sitting in bouts of > 60 min and daily steps is interesting as 35% of participants had a number of sitting bouts that on average, showed 30% less steps taken. Minimizing long sitting bouts and maintaining physical functioning to promote independence when walking outdoors can be tools for clinical practitioners devising interventions to break prolonged sitting among community-dwelling older adults. Future research should prioritize studying older adults' outdoor walking independence, including its relation to walking with or without assistive devices and its impact on physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Relationship Between Multiple Roles and Leisure-Time Physical Activities in Working-Age Women

BACKGROUND

Multiple role theory has proven effective in predicting variations in health, and a growing body of research has shown the importance of taking women's roles into account when analyzing physical activity levels. Nonetheless, researchers have yet to characterize the interaction between the various roles played by women and their physical activity.

PURPOSE

The objectives of this study were to elucidate the relationship between multiple roles and leisure-time physical activities (LTPAs) and to determine whether LTPA varies among women across different roles.

METHODS

Data were derived from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey database provided by the Health Promotion Administration of Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare, which includes 5,147 working-age women. The current study focused on women aged 20-50 years. The roles considered in this study included living with a partner, living with children, and employment status. LTPA levels were categorized as regular, inactive, or insufficient based on the LTPA metabolic equivalent in the previous week. The associations among level of LTPA, multiple roles, and demographic characteristics were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

We found single mothers with children to be more inactive than partnered mothers, and women living with a partner and those living with children were more likely to be inactive, whereas women working full-time were not at risk of inactivity. Women who assumed a larger number of roles were at a greater risk of inactivity. These findings are consistent with role strain theory.

CONCLUSIONS

Single mothers with children are more inactive than partnered mothers, and appropriate social support programs are necessary to reduce further disparities. Second, multiple demands on working-age women limit the time available for LTPAs, particularly among women living with a partner and children and engaged in full-time work. A physical activity intervention is a program or initiative designed to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes. We should develop and provide sustainable physical activity resources through the help of partners' housework to better promote physical activity intervention for working-age women.

A Longitudinal Dose-Response Curve Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and the Prevalence of Diabetes Based on the Different Levels of Cognitive Function Among Older Adults

This study investigated a dose-response relationship between Leisure-Time Physical Activity participation (LTPA) and the risk of diabetes and a comparison of the risk across different cognitive function groups among older adults. The Health and Retirement Study data were used from 2012 to 2020 (n = 18 746). This study conducted a Cox Proportional Hazard Regression to investigate the Dose-Response Curve between the prevalence of diabetes and the covariates following a level of LTPA participation. The result presented that the Odds Ratio continuously decreased as the level of LTPA participation increased. Among the three cognitive function groups, the high group (OR = .43, P < .05) and the mid group (OR = .71, P < .05) had a larger negative slope coefficient than the low group. This study found that LTPA participation reduces the risk of diabetes and gives evidence for the importance of cognitive function in reducing the prevalence of diabetes.

Psychosocial and environmental factors related to physical activity in middle-aged and older adults

The social ecological model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the multiple-level determinants of physical activity. This study explores the significant individual, social, and environmental variables and their interactions in relation to physical activity in middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study design was implemented. Healthy middle-aged and older adults were recruited (n = 697) through face-to-face and online surveys. The data collected comprised self-efficacy, social support, neighbourhood environment, and demographic characteristics. Hierarchical regression was used for statistical analysis. Self-rated health (B = 74.74, p < .001; B = 101.45, p = .022) and self-efficacy (B = 17.93, p < .001; B = 14.95, p = .020) were the significant individual variables in both middle-aged and older adults. Neighbourhood environment (B = 6.90, p = .015) and the interaction between self-efficacy and neighbourhood environment (B = 1.56, p = .009) were significant in middle-aged adults. Self-efficacy was the most significant predictor for all participants, with the positive correlations of neighbourhood environment arising only for middle-aged adults with high self-efficacy. Policy making or project design should consider multilevel factors in order to facilitate their physical activity.

Cross-Lagged Associations Between Physical Activity, Self-Rated Health, and Psychological Resilience Among Older American Adults: A 3-Wave Study

The current study examined the reciprocal association between psychological resilience, physical activity, and self-rated health in older America adults. A 3-wave cross-lagged panel design was employed using data sampled from the Health and Retirement Study 2010, 2014, and 2018. In total, 8380 older adults, age ranged between 56 and 95 years at the baseline (mean age = 68.06, SD = 7.77), were analyzed. Using structural equation modeling, standardized path coefficients were estimated to determine the relationship between physical activity, self-rated health, and psychological resilience across 2 follow-up points. Cross-lagged analysis revealed that higher levels of physical activity at T1 and T2 were significantly associated with higher levels of self-rated health at T2 and T3, respectively. Self-rated health at T1 and T2 were significantly associated with physical activity at T2 and T3, respectively. Self-rated health and psychological resilience were positively related to one another at each time point. However, relationship between physical activity and psychological resilience was complex across time. Study findings support reciprocal prospective relationship between physical activity and self-rated health and the relationship between self-rated health and psychological resilience.

Effects of a theory-based exercise intervention on physical activity levels and health-related outcomes in older people with chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

The benefits of physical activity are well-documented, and the prevalence of physical inactivity is high in older patients with chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an aerobic exercise intervention based on the capacity, opportunity, motivation-behavior (COM-B) model on physical activity and health-related outcomes in this population.

METHODS

Thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) for an exercise intervention based on the COM-B model, and 33 were assigned to the control group (CG) for usual care. Physical activity levels, daily steps and bone mineral density T-value, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, subendocardial myocardial viability rate, central arterial pressure, growth index, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle-arm index were measured at baseline, during the 12-week intervention, and after the 12-week follow-up.

RESULTS

Compared with the CG and pre-intervention, total physical activity in the IG increased significantly (P < 0.05); however, after the 12-week follow-up, total physical activity decreased. At the same time, the average daily steps of the elderly in both groups increased. Compared with the CG, at the 12-week follow-up, the bone mineral density T-value in the IG was significantly improved (P < 0.05). Compared with the pre-intervention values, during the 12-week intervention, bone mineral density T-value, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, subendocardial myocardial viability rate and central arterial pressure were significantly improved (P < 0.05); after the 12-week follow-up, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle-arm index were significantly improved (P < 0.05). No statistically significant changes in the growth index were detected, independent of the group and time.

CONCLUSION

Theory-based exercise interventions can change the physical inactivity behavior of older people with chronic diseases, effectively promoting physical activity and improves bone mineral density T-value, controls body weight, and reduces cardiovascular risk and physiological indicators related to atherosclerosis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 78-84.

Influence of Alpine Skiing on Health-Related Quality of Life and Physical Self-Concept in Physically Active Adults over 55 Years of Age

Background: Older adults have the highest rates of a sedentary lifestyle. Alpine skiing could be considered a suitable activity to encourage continued sports practice and improve the health of this population in winter. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the practice of alpine skiing and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical self-concept (PSC), and sport motivation. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive, involving 280 Spanish adults aged over 55 years and physically active (75.35% skiers). To assess physical activity, PSC, HRQoL, and sport motivation, we used the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaire (RAPA-Q), the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP 30), the Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36), and the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) questionnaires, respectively. Results: In the skier’s group, higher values were found for PSC (p < 0.001; d = 0.64), the physical component of HRQoL (p < 0.001, d = 0.48), physical function (p < 0.001, d = 61), and intrinsic motivation (p < 0.001; d = 0.85). The practice of alpine skiing was associated with higher levels of the physical health component (ORadj = 2.13, 95% CI 1.18−3.95, p = 0.013), PSC (ORadj = 2.92, 95% CI 1.58−5.52, p < 0.001), and intrinsic motivation (ORadj = 2.24, 95% CI 1.22−4.23, p = 0.010). Conclusions: The practice of alpine skiing is positively associated with higher values of HRQoL, PSC, and intrinsic motivation, and based on the above, it seems that alpine skiing can contribute to healthy ageing and improve the quality of life of older adults.

Associations between physical activity and functional limitations in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander middle-aged and older adults in the United States

OBJECTIVES

Physical activity (PA) can help individuals maintain physical function and independence. The association between PA and functional limitations (FL) has not been explored in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) population. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between PA and FL among NHPI adults (age ≥ 45 years) living in the United States.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional data from the 2014 NHPI-National Health Interview Survey (N = 628) was used to create three constructs of FL based on responses from the Functioning and Disability Survey Module: needing equipment/assistance, having difficulty walking, and having difficulty with performing self-care and other fine motor activities. We used 2-stage least squares regression to examine the relationship between PA and FL of NHPI adults while accounting for the potential endogeneity of PA to FL.

RESULTS

Compared to NHPI adults who met the guideline for recommended levels of aerobic and strengthening PA, those who met only the strengthening guideline experienced less difficulty in two FL constructs (use of medical equipment/assistance and difficulty walking). Those who met the aerobic guideline reported even less difficulties in all three FL constructs. NHPI adults who met both the aerobic and strengthening guidelines experienced the least difficulties in all three FL constructs compared to those who met neither PA guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

PA is associated with function in this adult NHPI population. Aerobic guidelines alone may be more beneficial than meeting the strengthening guideline alone; however, meeting both the aerobic and strengthening guidelines is most protective against FL.

Leisure, Mental Health, and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objectives: Little research has investigated the relationship between types of leisure activities and mental health outcomes among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The purpose of this study was to investigate how certain leisure activities are associated with life satisfaction, anxiety, loneliness, happiness, and positive and negative affect. Methods: In this study, we used the 2020 Health and Retirement Study Core Early data and conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to investigate the different effects of the 3 types of leisure activities on the mental health of older adults with MCI (N=901). Results: We found that leisure-time physical activity was the strongest predictor of enhanced life satisfaction, positive affect, and happiness, and reduced anxiety and loneliness. In addition, sedentary leisure was associated with reduced anxiety and loneliness and increased happiness. Conclusions: These findings suggest that engagement in leisure-time physical activity and sedentary leisure can be instrumental in promoting the life satisfaction and mental health of older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Application of EMGB to Study Impacts of Public Green Space on Active Transport Behavior: Evidence from South Korea

Public green spaces (e.g., parks, green trails, greenways) and motivations to engage in active transport are essential for encouraging walking and cycling. However, how these key factors influence walker and cyclist behavior is potentially being increasingly influenced by the use of smart apps, as they become more ubiquitous in everyday practices. To fill this research gap, this work creates and tests a theoretically integrated study framework grounded in an extended model of goal-directed behavior, including public green space and motivation with perceived usefulness of smart apps. In order to accomplish the purpose of this study, we conducted an online survey of Korean walkers (n = 325) and cyclists (n = 326) between 10 and 25 July 2021 and applied partial least squares, structural equation, and multi-group analysis to validate the research model. Results revealed that active transport users' awareness of public green space positively influences attitude toward (γ = 0.163), as well as behavioral intention of (γ = 0.159), walking and cycling. Additionally, motivation (extrinsic and intrinsic) greatly influences attitude (γ = 0.539) and behavioral intention (γ = 0.535). Subjective norms (γ = 0.137) and positive (γ = 0.466) and negative anticipated emotions (γ = 0.225) have a significant impact on the desire that leads to behavioral intention. High and low perceived smart app usefulness also significantly moderates between public green space and attitude (t-value = 25.705), public green space and behavioral intention (t-value = 25.726), motivation and attitude (t-value = -25.561), and motivation and behavioral intention (t-value = -15.812). Consequently, the findings are useful to academics and practitioners by providing new knowledge and insights.

The Effectiveness of Planning Interventions for Improving Physical Activity in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Planning interventions such as action planning (AP) and coping planning (CP) have been recognized as influential strategies in promoting physical activity (PA), but mixed results of existing evidence have been observed. This study aims to perform a systematical meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of planning interventions for improving PA in the general population. Eight databases, including Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ProQuest, CNKI, and Wanfang Data, were searched to locate relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to 31 December 2021. In total, 41 trials with 5439 samples were included in this systematic review, and 35 trials were used in our meta-analysis. The results showed that PA was better promoted in the planned intervention group compared to the control group (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.25-0.44, I2 = 61.4%). Based on the subgroup analyses, we found that planning strategies were more effective among patients, males, when adopting AP intervention, when using the face-to-face sessions delivery mode, and when reinforcements were conducted during the follow-up. The findings of this study indicate that planning interventions significantly improved PA behavior, and, in some contexts, the effects performed better. Future research needs to be conducted to explore the underlying mechanisms of planning interventions and validate their effects more extensively.

Self-perceptions of ageing and perceived health status: the mediating role of cognitive functioning and physical activity

There is evidence that perceived health status is relevant for older adults' wellbeing, and at the same time perceived health status can be influenced by self-perceptions of ageing. There is a lack of studies on the relationship between these variables. The aim of this study was to explore attitudes towards ageing and self-perceptions of ageing among Spanish middle-aged and older people, and to identify possible mediators in the relationship between self-perceptions of ageing on perceived health status. The sample comprised 1,124 individuals from 50 to 98 years old (mean = 64.84, standard deviation = 10.12) from the Ageing in Spain Longitudinal Study database, Pilot Survey (ELES-PS). Almost 70 per cent of the participants stated that old age begins at a specific chronological age and half of them considered that society treats older people with indifference. Self-perceptions of ageing, physical activity, cognitive functioning and age were significant predictors, and together these variables explained 15.9 per cent in the variance of perceived health status. The multiple mediation analysis revealed that self-perceptions of ageing predicted cognitive functioning (B = 0.848, p < 0.01) and physical activity (B = 2.9046, p < 0.001), and mediated the association between self-perceptions of ageing and perceived health status (B = 0.1144, standard error = 0.0147, p < 0.01). Results from this study highlight the importance of perceptions and attitudes towards ageing for older adults' health and wellbeing, thus this study contributes to a better understanding of how these variables are related. In this sense, results from this study can be useful for designing interventions for fostering wellbeing. Addressing negative self-perceptions of ageing and negative attitudes towards ageing can be particularly useful because they are associated with more pessimistic expectancies about the ageing process.

Building social capital through sport engagement: evidence for adults aged 50 years and older

Involvement in sports is considered a powerful way to generate social capital. However, the role of sport engagement in the development of social relationships of older adults has not received much attention. Remarkably, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the quality and diversity of social relations built through active sport participation and spectatorship. This paper attempts to assess the relationship between sport engagement and various measures of network social capital, including the extension and quality of social networks and the heterogeneity of personal relationships. Also, it proposes new and more informative measurements of an individual's quantity and quality of social ties. By analysing data from a survey in Spain (N = 600) and applying logistic regressions, the results show that sport participation and attendance at sporting events are closely related to different dimensions of network social capital. Concerning people who are not actively engaged in sports, more extensive social networks characterise those who frequently attend sporting events. In contrast, active sport participation is associated with the extensity and quality measures of social connectedness, the level of satisfaction with friends and the opportunity to enjoy close relationships. Therefore, this paper provides new evidence on how sport engagement may result in tighter and extensive networks for older adults and serve as support for emphasising sports, physical activity and leisure as strategies for maintaining and boosting older people's social and psychological health.

Different Levels of Leisure-time Physical Activity, Coping, and Mental Health among Older Adults with Diabetes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 has led public health researchers to try to improve mental health among older adults with diabetes. Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has emerged as a means of coping with mental health difficulties in the pandemic. Methods: We extracted 301 respondents from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) based on the following criteria: over 50 years old and the onset of diabetes. We used multiple questionnaire items to assess mental health (ie, loneliness, happiness, and positive and negative affect) for older adults with diabetes. We used multivariate analysis of variance to investigate the relationships between the fixed variable (ie, LTPA) and outcome variables (ie, mental health). We categorized LTPA participation into 3 groups (ie, low, mid, and high) and examined mental health following various levels of LTPA participation. Results: LTPA participation showed a significant group mean differences for loneliness, happiness, and positive affect, but not for negative affect. High-LTPA respondents presented lower loneliness and higher happiness than low-LTPA respondents. High-LTPA and mid-LTPA respondents indicated higher positive affect than low-LTPA respondents. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the benefits of LTPA on mental health for older adults with diabetes and suggests that high-LPTA involvement can be effective in promoting mental health among older adults with diabetes in the COVID-19 era.

IoT-assisted physical education training network virtualization and resource management using a deep reinforcement learning system

The Internet of Things (IoT) development made it possible for technology to communicate physical education by connecting cost-effective heterogeneous devices and digital applications to uncontrolled and accessible environments. The traditional physical education monitoring environment creates crucial manual efforts on athletes' activity observations and tracking consistently. Similarly, remote monitoring and assessment of athletes in sports training seem to be barriers to physical education monitoring and training. It creates various chances to improve training and education through technology advancements like IoT and deep learning. Students can efficiently monitor their physical behavior to increase their physical and psychological benefits. The IoT-assisted physical activity monitoring device is proposed to track students' physical activity and enhance outcomes. The management ability allows students to organize and increase speed their physical activity in a wellness manner. In addition, this study examines the connections between monitoring ability which is an essential component for sports activities and physical activity. This system collects essential information from IoT-based wearable devices that interact with the data in real time by virtualizing the device. The IoT network includes several device activities and monitors the heartbeat and physical body temperature of a person. The analysis of specific studies and student feedback shows that the designed virtual system of physical educations is effective in its application and implementation and provides a reliable guide for developing student physical educational systems. The experimental analysis is evaluated; the solution offered is developing and supporting physical education and training approaches in reality and creates healthy environment systems to solve the health monitoring challenges posed by IoT devices. The proposed method has achieved extraordinary physical activity monitoring compared to the conventional systems, as shown by experimental findings. The simulation analysis of physical education can help students and improve the associated aspects of physical abilities with high accuracy ratio (98.3), prediction ratio (96.5%), interaction ratio (94.4%), performance ratio (95.1%), the efficiency ratio (93.2), F-score (92.2%), and reduce error rate (17.5%) and physical activity patterns.

Functional Status, Quality of Life, and Physical Activity of Senior Club Members-A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aims to assess the functional status, quality of life, and physical activity (PA) of the elderly who are members of senior social clubs. The study included 63 participants (65-95 years old) who were members of a seniors club. The study utilized the following instruments: Barthel scale, Lawton's scale of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), WHO Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire, author's survey questionnaire containing questions about the type of PA. Duration of membership in the senior club has a statistically significant effect on Barthel index score (F = 19.68, p < 0.001) and Lawton's IADL scale results (F = 17.59, p < 0.001). All four domains of life quality were strongly related to the duration of attendance to senior clubs. Participants who attended the senior club for more than five years were more likely to report a longer PA duration than participants who attended the senior club for less than 5 years (Chi2 = 25.84, p < 0.001). Attendance to senior social clubs has a strong positive impact on functional status, quality of life, and PA of the elderly. Moreover, our study identified numerous social-demographic factors associated with PA, quality of life, and functional status of senior club members.

Understanding influences on physical activity participation by older adults: A qualitative study of community-dwelling older adults from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK

BACKGROUND

The health benefits of physical activity (PA) participation in later life are widely recognised. Understanding factors that can influence the participation of community-dwelling older adults in PA is crucial in an ageing society. This will be paramount in aiding the design of future interventions to effectively promote PA in this population. The main aim of this qualitative study was to explore influences on PA among community-dwelling older people, and the secondary aim was to explore gender differences.

METHODS

Qualitative data were collected in 2014 by conducting focus group discussions using a semi-structured discussion guide with older people resident in Hertfordshire, UK. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and transcripts analysed thematically.

RESULTS

Ninety-two participants were recruited to the study (47% women; 74-83 years) and a total of 11 focus groups were conducted. Findings indicated six themes that appeared to affect older adults' participation in PA: past life experiences; significant life events; getting older; PA environment; psychological/personal factors; and social capital. Overall, the findings emphasised the role of modifiable factors, namely psychological factors (such as self-efficacy, motivation, outcome expectancy) and social factors (such as social support and social engagement). These factors exerted their own influence on physical activity participation, but also appeared to mediate the effect of other largely non-modifiable background and ageing-related factors on participants' engagement with PA in later life.

CONCLUSION

In view of these findings, intervention designers could usefully work with behavioural scientists for insight as to how to enhance psychological and social factors in older adults. Our data suggest that interventions that aim to build self-efficacy, motivation and social networks have the potential to indirectly promote PA participation in older adults. This would be best achieved by developing physical activity interventions through working with participants in an empowering and engaging way.

COVID-19-Related Lifestyle Changes among Community-Dwelling Older Adult Day-Care Users: A Qualitative Study

In Japan, the community-based comprehensive care system is an important initiative. The purpose of this study was to understand COVID-19-related lifestyle changes experienced by older adults who lived in communities and used day-care services. Using a qualitative inductive research method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 older adults who used day-care services in Kyoto City, which assessed lifestyle changes before and after the spread of COVID-19 during March-April 2021. The extracted lifestyle change codes were classified into six categories and 16 subcategories. The data revealed that older adults felt socially isolated and experienced multiple changes in their lives, including limited leisure activities, changes in roles, decreased interpersonal interaction with family and acquaintances, poor diet and sleep quality, and reduced attention to personal appearance and grooming. The findings suggest that during COVID-19, older adults had difficulty adapting to the various changes in their lives and showed a decline in physical and mental functioning. Thus, it is important for day-care facilities to create sustainable spaces in response to the various care needs of community-dwelling older adults whose lifestyles have changed as a result of the COVID-19 situation.

Exercise Experiences of Older Adults with Diabetes and Sarcopenia: A Phenomenological Study

Sarcopenia is a common and progressive skeletal muscle condition, often described as an intermediate stage in the development of frailty and disability in patients with diabetes. This can be improved through physical activity and exercise. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the exercise experiences of older adults with diabetes and sarcopenia. Individual interviews were conducted following semi-structured interview guidelines, and narratives were analyzed using Giorgi's method. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 14 purposively sampled older patients with diabetes and sarcopenia. The study identified three main themes: encountering difficulty during exercise, recognizing the advantages of exercise, and constructing a suitable exercise model. While older adults with diabetes and sarcopenia may encounter difficulty during exercise, they also experience positive feedback from exercise. Understanding the limitations of older adults, individualizing exercise models based on their exercise experiences, and providing appropriate interventions and necessary emotional support can effectively prevent diabetes and sarcopenia.

Leisure-time physical activity and its correlates in a multi-ethnic sample of adults over age 50 in Singapore

Background

To examine the prevalence and correlates of regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among community-dwelling adults in Singapore.

Methods

Data was sourced from the 2018–2019 Singapore Life Panel, which asked respondents about their current LTPA participation at various time-points over a seven-month period. The final sample comprised 7684 subjects over age 50. We applied logistic regression models in our analysis.

Results

39.8% of the respondents engaged in regular LTPA, with significantly higher proportions of men than women doing so. Factors positively associated with regular LTPA in both genders were age, education, retired, income, and satisfaction with social life, whereas a negative association was found with self-rated health. The correlates of sustained LTPA participation were relatively consistent with factors predicting current participation.

Conclusions

Regular participation in recreational physical activities is important to promoting health and well-being among middle-aged and older adults as populations age. Our findings indicated that positive perceptions of social relationships and being retired are important supporting factors. The urgent development of physical activity promotion strategies and interventions are required to foster greater overall LTPA participation.

Physical Self-Concept Changes in Adults and Older Adults: Influence of Emotional Intelligence, Intrinsic Motivation and Sports Habits

Lifespan is increasing globally as never before, and leading to an aging world population. Thus, the challenge for society and individuals is now how to live these years in the best possible health and wellbeing. Despite the benefits of physical activity for both are well documented, older people are not active enough. Physical self-concept is correlated with high levels of sports practice, although its evolution across one’s life span is not clear. The aim of this research has been to analyze the physical self-concept in older adults and its relationship with emotional intelligence, motivation and sports habits. The sample of 520 adults aged between 41 and 80 was clustered in ranges of age; 70.96% were men (n = 369; 57.34 years (SD: 7.97)) and 29.04% women (n = 151; age = 55.56 years (SD: 9.12)). Questionnaires adapted to Spanish were used to measure physical self-concept (Physical Self-Perception Profile), motivation (Sport Motivation Scale), and emotional intelligence (Trait Meta-Mood Scale). Regarding physical self-concept, the youngest group obtained the highest mean values and the oldest group the lowest. Physical self-concept correlated positively with emotional regulation and intrinsic motivation. Initiation to sports in childhood, the practice of sports activities for more than 150’ per week, and the practice of three or more sports, were associated with a higher score of physical self-concept. The findings reveal that physical self-concept declines in older adults, slightly at first, and sharply between 71 and 80 years, being intrinsic motivation, emotional regulation, and sports habits, factors to consider in favoring a positive physical self-concept and adherence to sporting activities.