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Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Stages of Change

Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Stages of Change Most older adults are not physically active and are stereotypically presumed to be relatively "setin their ways. " We measured stages of change among a sample of older adults and comparedthem between active and inactive subgroups. Participants (n = 59) aged 59-80 (M = 64.9)completed the Stages of Change scale about their levels of physical activity: 18 were exerciseprogram participants; 20 were a matched group of retirees; 21 had particcpated in an Elderhostelprogram. We hypothesized that stage levels would be nonlinear and differ significantly and thatthe profiles of stages between groups would be nonparallel. Results support both hypotheses.For the total sample, action and maintenance subscale scores were higher than precontemplation subscale scores. Between groups, the exercise and Elderhostel groups scored higher onaction and maintenance that the retiree group, while the retirees scored higher than the otherson precontemplation. We present discussion and implications for intervention programming andfuture research. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Applied Gerontology SAGE

Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Stages of Change

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References (12)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
Copyright © by SAGE Publications
ISSN
0733-4648
eISSN
1552-4523
DOI
10.1177/073346489000900207
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Most older adults are not physically active and are stereotypically presumed to be relatively "setin their ways. " We measured stages of change among a sample of older adults and comparedthem between active and inactive subgroups. Participants (n = 59) aged 59-80 (M = 64.9)completed the Stages of Change scale about their levels of physical activity: 18 were exerciseprogram participants; 20 were a matched group of retirees; 21 had particcpated in an Elderhostelprogram. We hypothesized that stage levels would be nonlinear and differ significantly and thatthe profiles of stages between groups would be nonparallel. Results support both hypotheses.For the total sample, action and maintenance subscale scores were higher than precontemplation subscale scores. Between groups, the exercise and Elderhostel groups scored higher onaction and maintenance that the retiree group, while the retirees scored higher than the otherson precontemplation. We present discussion and implications for intervention programming andfuture research.

Journal

Journal of Applied GerontologySAGE

Published: Jun 1, 1990

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