Sitting as a moral practice

Older adults' accounts from qualitative interviews on sedentary behaviours

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2249986
AutoresVictoria J Palmer (0000-0002-1060-9990, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit University of Glasgow Glasgow UK), Cindy M Gray (0000-0002-4295-6110, Institute of Health and Wellbeing College of Social Sciences University of Glasgow Glasgow UK, autor de correspondencia), Claire Fitzsimons (0000-0001-6192-1397, Physical Activity for Health Research Centre Institute Sport Physical Education and Health Sciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK), Nanette Mutrie (0000-0002-5018-6398, Physical Activity for Health Research Centre Institute Sport Physical Education and Health Sciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK), Sally Wyke (0000-0002-7509-8247, Institute of Health and Wellbeing College of Social Sciences University of Glasgow Glasgow UK), Geoff Der (0000-0002-8677-073X, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit University of Glasgow Glasgow UK), Sébastien Chastin (0000-0003-1421-9348, Ghent University), Sebastien F M Chastin (School of Health and Life Sciences Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow UK), Dawn A Skelton (0000-0001-6223-9840, School of Health and Life Sciences Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow UK), the Seniors USP Team
Año2021
Volumen43
Número9
Páginas2102-2120
Fecha de publicación2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.13383
PMID34724232
OpenAlexW3207466604
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas49

Amidst public health campaigns urging people to sit less as well as being more physically active, this paper investigates how older adults make sense of their sedentary behaviour. Using an accounts framework focusing on how people rationalise their sitting practices, we analysed data from 44 qualitative interviews with older adults. All interviewees had received information about sedentary behaviour and health, visual feedback on their own objectively measured sitting over a week and guidance on sitting less. Participants used accounts to position sitting as a moral practice, distinguishing between 'good' (active/'busy') and 'bad' (passive/'not busy') sitting. This allowed them to align themselves with acceptable (worthwhile) forms of sitting and distance themselves from other people whose sitting they viewed as less worthwhile. However, some participants also described needing to sit more as they got older. The findings suggest that some public health messaging may lead to stigmatisation around sitting. Future sedentary behaviour guidelines and public health campaigns should consider more relatable guidelines that consider the lived realities of ageing, and the individual and social factors that shape them. They should advocate finding a balance between sitting and moving that is appropriate for each person

Physical activity · Physical therapy · Qualitative research · Sedentary behavior · Sitting · Social science · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Gerontology