LEC8: Older Adults Perspectives on Physical Activity - Barriers and Facilitators

Question 1

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity: problem addressed

Answer 1

inactivity is a pandemic condition, with far reaching health, economic, environmental, and social consequences. Inactivity rates grow with age.

Question 2

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity: the rationale for this study

Answer 2

The identification of barriers
and facilitators to physical activity of older adults can help inform effective population-wide physical activity policies and strategies.

Question 3

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity:
Theme 1: Physical Limitations

Answer 3

Pain or discomfort during PA (Barrier)
- Experienced a range of unpleasant sensations (e.g. muscle aches, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness)
- High intensity physical activity was considered distressing and intolerable

Concerns about falling during PA (Barrier)
- Fear of falling, fear of sustaining serious injuries, lack of confidence to exercise independently
- Participants who had fallen in the past were more anxious about getting injured during exercise

Comorbidities prevent participation in PA (Barrier)
- Symptoms and physical limitations caused by existing comorbidities prevented participants from exercising (e.g. joint pain from osteoarthritis, urinary incontinence, cancer)

Question 4

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity:
Theme 2: Social Influences

Answer 4

Valuing interaction with peers (Facilitator)
- Sense of belonging; establishing friendships
- Appreciation of friendly and fair competition
- Good rapport with instructors motivated participants to continue exercising

Social awkwardness (Barrier)
- Lack of confidence in social settings
- Self-conscious and intimidated exercising in a group with younger people (“couldn’t keep up”); or men felt uncomfortable in group classes with mostly women

Encouragement from others (Facilitator)
- Verbal encouragement; practical help (transportation); assistance with purchase of equipment
- Encouragement from health professionals to start exercising was a big motivator for some participants

Dependence on professional instruction (Barrier/Facilitator)
- A well-trained instructor improved quality of experience and decreased fear in participants
- Exercise without an instructor was viewed as not as safe

Question 5

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity:
Theme 3: Motivation and Beliefs

Answer 5

Apathy (Barrier)
- Disinterest in physical activity believing there are not health benefits
- Laziness or low motivation

Irrelevance and inefficacy (Barrier)
- Some believed that exercise is unnecessary for older adults or harmful
- Exercise could not slow the aging process so “why bother?”
- Some believed that the are “too young to fall”, thus exercise to prevent falls is irrelevant

Maintaining habits (Facilitator)
- Participants were active at an older age because they have been active their whole lives.

Question 6

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity:
Theme 4: Personal Benefits of Physical
Activity

Answer 6

• Strength, balance and flexibility (Facilitator)
• Self-confidence (Facilitator)
• Independence (Facilitator)
• Improved health and mental well-being (Facilitator)

Question 7

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity:
Theme 5: Competing Priorities

Answer 7

Participants reported having little or no time for physical activity due to work or family responsibilities (e.g. caregiving for partners or grandchildren was mentioned often) (Barrier)

Question 8

Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity:
Theme 6: Access Difficulties

Answer 8

Environmental Barriers
- Poor access to transport, unsuitable weather, neighborhood safety, and unavailability of exercise programs or equipment

Affordability (Barrier)
- Inability to pay for programs
- Sometimes participants mentioned an unwillingness to spend money on physical activity (“these programs should be government subsidized”

Question 9

Resourcefulness

Answer 9

Consists of self-help strategies that are used to maintain independence in daily tasks despite adverse situations

Question 10

Self-efficacy

Answer 10

Is the belief in one’s ability to cope effectively when faced with adversity

Question 11

Self-control

Answer 11

Involves self-monitoring of internal events, including thoughts, feelings, and sensations to prevent interference with functioning or task performance

Question 12

Adaptability

Answer 12

Involves taking the initiative to employ problem-solving strategies when faced with stressful situations or conditions. Highly resourceful individuals have more adaptive functioning

Question 13

Typology of pleasure: sensual

Answer 13

Sensory experiences

Instant gratification in the moment of doing the activity. Moments of sensual pleasure throughout activity

Question 14

Typology of pleasure: documented

Answer 14

Process of documenting activity.

After doing the activity.

Pleasure experienced beyond the space where the activity occurs

Question 15

Typology of pleasure: habitual action

Answer 15

Implementation of and adherence to habitual behavior. During the cyclical rhythm of routine

Pleasure experienced beyond the space where the activity occurs

Question 16

Typology of pleasure: immersion

Answer 16

sense of focus, which facilitates escape from, consideration of and perspective to be gained upon everyday life demands.

In the moment of doing the activity. Benefits recognized as extending beyond that moment

Where the activity occurs. Benefits recognized as extending beyond that space and into everyday life