Afroditi Stathi
Biographic Data
| ID | 1730720 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Afroditi Stathi |
| GIVEN NAMES | Afroditi |
| FAMILY NAME | Stathi |
| SIGNATURE | STATHI A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Birmingham |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2162-777X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 48 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2001 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
The REtirement in ACTion exercise programme and its effects on elements of long term functionality in older adults
Background: The prevention of mobility-related disability amongst adults is a global healthcare priority. Cost-effective community-based strategies to improve physical function and independence in older adults with mobility limitations are needed. This study investigated the effectiveness of the REtirement in ACTion (REACT) exercise intervention on individual markers of physical function at 6-and 12-months. Methods: The REACT multicentre randomis…
How can older peer leaders best support motivation for walking in physically inactive older adults? A self-determination theory perspective
Objective We aimed to determine what older adults perceive to be need-supportive behaviours of peer walk leaders, drawing primarily from Self-Determination Theory (SDT).Design Experienced peer leaders (n = 13; Mage = 73.23, SD = 6.55) and walkers (n = 17; Mage = 72.88, SD = 5.79) were recruited from existing walking groups. Individuals who expressed an interest in becoming a peer leader (n = 18; Mage = 72.72, SD = 4.99) or walker (n = 20; Mage = …
Active Aging and Public Health
By 2050, 20% of the world's population will be over the age of 65 years, with projections that 80% of older adults will be living in low- to middle-income countries. Physical inactivity and sedentary time are particularly high in older adults, presenting unique public health challenges. In this article, we first review evidence that points to multiple beneficial outcomes of active aging, including better physical function, cognitive function, men…
Active and healthy ageing in urban environments
Urban age-friendly initiatives strive to promote active and healthy ageing by addressing urban influences that impact individuals as they age. Collaborative community partnerships with multi-level stakeholders are crucial for fostering age-friendly initiatives that can transform urban community health. Employing a citizen social science (CSS) approach, this study aimed to engage older adults and stakeholders in Birmingham, UK, to (i) identify key…
Delivery fidelity of the React (REtirement in ACTion) physical activity and behaviour maintenance intervention for community dwelling older people with mobility limitations
This study highlights successes and improvements needed to enhance delivery fidelity in future implementation of the behavioural maintenance programme of the REACT intervention. Future training of REACT session leaders and assessment of delivery fidelity needs to focus on the delivery of Goal setting and Action Planning, Modelling, Supporting Relatedness, Supporting Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity, and Managing Setbacks/ Problem Solving
Employing citizen science to enhance active and healthy ageing in urban environments
Engaging older residents in problem definition and solution-building is key to the success of place-based initiatives endeavouring to increase the age-friendliness of urban environments. This study employed the Our Voice framework, engaging older adult citizen scientists (n = 14) and community stakeholders (n = 15) across the city of Birmingham, UK. With the aim of identifying urban features impacting age friendliness and co-producing recommendat…
The Role of Urban Environments in Promoting Active and Healthy Aging
Promoting active and healthy aging in urban spaces requires environments with diverse, age-friendly characteristics. This scoping review investigated the associations between urban characteristics and active and healthy aging as identified by citizen science (CS) and other participatory approaches. Using a systematic scoping review procedure, 23 articles employing a CS or participatory approach (participant age range: 54-98 years) were reviewed. …
Profiles of Loneliness and Social Isolation in Physically Active and Inactive Older Adults in Rural England
Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality and physical inactivity in older age. This study explored the socioecological context in which both physically active and inactive older adults experience loneliness and/or social isolation in a UK rural setting. Design: A mixed-methods design employed semi structured interviews and accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (M…
Mobilising people as assets for active ageing promotion
The findings of this study support the value of peer volunteering as a strategy for mobilising community assets in promoting active ageing. To ensure success and longevity, these schemes require appropriate funding and efficient administrative support
Social media use informing behaviours related to physical activity, diet and quality of life during Covid-19
The evidence shows that participants were critical users of social media and were able to use social media to derive benefit for their health and wellbeing. Detailed guidance for those who use social media, as well as those who recommend and endorse social media content is required to maximise the potential of social media to support health behaviours. Future public health strategies and social media interventions should acknowledge diversity in …
Developing a Citizen Social Science approach to understand urban stress and promote wellbeing in urban communities
This paper sets out the future potential and challenges for developing an interdisciplinary, mixed-method Citizen Social Science approach to researching urban emotions. It focuses on urban stress, which is increasingly noted as a global mental health challenge facing both urbanised and rapidly urbanising societies. The paper reviews the existing use of mobile psychophysiological or biosensing within urban environments—as means of ‘capturing’ the …
Urban Emotion Sensing Beyond ‘Affective Capture’
The use of mobile sensor methodologies in urban analytics to study 'urban emotions' is currently outpacing the science required to rigorously interpret the data generated. Interdisciplinary research on 'urban stress' could help inform urban wellbeing policies relating to healthier commuting and alleviation of work stress. The purpose of this paper is to address-through methodological experimentation-ethical, political and conceptual issues identi…
Employing Participatory Citizen Science Methods to Promote Age-Friendly Environments Worldwide
The trajectory of aging is profoundly impacted by the physical and social environmental contexts in which we live. While “top–down” policy activities can have potentially wide impacts on such contexts, they often take time, resources, and political will, and therefore can be less accessible to underserved communities. This article describes a “bottom–up”, resident-engaged method to advance local environmental and policy change, called Our Voice, …
Moral discourse in general practitioners' accounts of obesity communication
Predictors of loneliness and different types of social isolation of rural-living older adults in the United Kingdom
Loneliness and social isolation are recognised, conceptually distinct threats to health and wellbeing in older age but limited evidence is available on their predictors in rural populations. This study performed logistical regression modelling to explore the predictors of loneliness, isolation from one's family and isolation from one's community in 884 British rural-living older adults (57.9% female; mean age = 71.5, standard deviation = 8.1 year…
Perceptions of success of a local UK public health collaborative
Successful public health initiatives require multi-sector collaboration. AVONet was a UK collaborative developed to provide evidence-based strategies for active ageing. This study explored the success of AVONet in the achievement of its objectives as perceived by all partners. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, utilizing a quantitative survey and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Data collection was undertaken in Septe…
Objective Indicators of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time and Associations with Subjective Well-Being in Adults Aged 70 and Over
This study explored the associations of the volume and intensity of physical activity and the volume of sedentary time with subjective well-being in a diverse group of 228 older adults in the UK (111 female, mean age 78.2 years (SD 5.8)). Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour were assessed by accelerometry deriving mean steps per day, mean moderate/vigorous PA minutes per hour (MVPA min · h(-1)) and minutes of sedentary time per hour (ST…
Food shopping habits, physical activity and health-related indicators among adults aged ≥70 years
Objective To investigate the food shopping habits of older adults in the UK and explore their potential associations with selected health-related indicators. Design A cross-sectional study including objectively measured physical activity levels, BMI, physical function and self-reported health status and dietary intake. Setting Bristol, UK. Subjects A total of 240 older adults aged ≥70 years living independently. Results Mean age was 78·1 ( sd 5·7…
Neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity in UK older adults
Processes Associated with Participation and Adherence to a 12-month Exercise Programme for Adults Aged 70 and older
This study investigated the processes associated with the engagement of adults aged 70 years and older in a 12-month long research-based structured exercise programme. A sample of 21 participants (Mean age (SD) 75.8 (3.9); 14 females) and six exercise class leaders or researchers involved in the programme participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed with the principles of interpretive qualitative analysis. Our …
Exploring social and environmental factors affecting adolescents' participation in physical activity
This study explores the social factors that influence young people's participation in school and out of school physical activities. Fifty-two 16-year-old adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds in one suburban and one inner-city secondary school in the Midlands, UK, participated in group interviews which explored their perceptions about physical activity and the constraints they had experienced. The study suggests that involvement in…
Bathing in the healing waters. A case-study of the development of thermal spas in Greece
The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics, the existing drawbacks and the future opportunities of thermal spas in Greece. Using a case study approach, ‘Thermae’ spa was chosen because of its long-standing establishment and current reputation. The sample included fifty spa visitors and two managers. One-to-one interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the data. Thermal spas in Greece attract mainly older adults who seek…
Exploring social and environmental factors affecting adolescents' participation in physical activity
This study explores the social factors that influence young people's participation in school and out of school physical activities. Fifty-two 16-year-old adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds in one suburban and one inner-city secondary school in the Midlands, UK, participated in group interviews which explored their perceptions about physical activity and the constraints they had experienced. The study suggests that involvement in…
Moral discourse in general practitioners' accounts of obesity communication
Predictors of loneliness and different types of social isolation of rural-living older adults in the United Kingdom
Loneliness and social isolation are recognised, conceptually distinct threats to health and wellbeing in older age but limited evidence is available on their predictors in rural populations. This study performed logistical regression modelling to explore the predictors of loneliness, isolation from one's family and isolation from one's community in 884 British rural-living older adults (57.9% female; mean age = 71.5, standard deviation = 8.1 year…
Employing citizen science to enhance active and healthy ageing in urban environments
Engaging older residents in problem definition and solution-building is key to the success of place-based initiatives endeavouring to increase the age-friendliness of urban environments. This study employed the Our Voice framework, engaging older adult citizen scientists (n = 14) and community stakeholders (n = 15) across the city of Birmingham, UK. With the aim of identifying urban features impacting age friendliness and co-producing recommendat…
The Role of Urban Environments in Promoting Active and Healthy Aging
Promoting active and healthy aging in urban spaces requires environments with diverse, age-friendly characteristics. This scoping review investigated the associations between urban characteristics and active and healthy aging as identified by citizen science (CS) and other participatory approaches. Using a systematic scoping review procedure, 23 articles employing a CS or participatory approach (participant age range: 54-98 years) were reviewed. …
Neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity in UK older adults
Processes Associated with Participation and Adherence to a 12-month Exercise Programme for Adults Aged 70 and older
This study investigated the processes associated with the engagement of adults aged 70 years and older in a 12-month long research-based structured exercise programme. A sample of 21 participants (Mean age (SD) 75.8 (3.9); 14 females) and six exercise class leaders or researchers involved in the programme participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed with the principles of interpretive qualitative analysis. Our …
Bathing in the healing waters. A case-study of the development of thermal spas in Greece
The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics, the existing drawbacks and the future opportunities of thermal spas in Greece. Using a case study approach, ‘Thermae’ spa was chosen because of its long-standing establishment and current reputation. The sample included fifty spa visitors and two managers. One-to-one interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the data. Thermal spas in Greece attract mainly older adults who seek…
Exploring social and environmental factors affecting adolescents' participation in physical activity
This study explores the social factors that influence young people's participation in school and out of school physical activities. Fifty-two 16-year-old adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds in one suburban and one inner-city secondary school in the Midlands, UK, participated in group interviews which explored their perceptions about physical activity and the constraints they had experienced. The study suggests that involvement in…
Processes Associated with Participation and Adherence to a 12-month Exercise Programme for Adults Aged 70 and older
This study investigated the processes associated with the engagement of adults aged 70 years and older in a 12-month long research-based structured exercise programme. A sample of 21 participants (Mean age (SD) 75.8 (3.9); 14 females) and six exercise class leaders or researchers involved in the programme participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed with the principles of interpretive qualitative analysis. Our …
Food shopping habits, physical activity and health-related indicators among adults aged ≥70 years
Objective To investigate the food shopping habits of older adults in the UK and explore their potential associations with selected health-related indicators. Design A cross-sectional study including objectively measured physical activity levels, BMI, physical function and self-reported health status and dietary intake. Setting Bristol, UK. Subjects A total of 240 older adults aged ≥70 years living independently. Results Mean age was 78·1 ( sd 5·7…
Neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity in UK older adults
Objective Indicators of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time and Associations with Subjective Well-Being in Adults Aged 70 and Over
This study explored the associations of the volume and intensity of physical activity and the volume of sedentary time with subjective well-being in a diverse group of 228 older adults in the UK (111 female, mean age 78.2 years (SD 5.8)). Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour were assessed by accelerometry deriving mean steps per day, mean moderate/vigorous PA minutes per hour (MVPA min · h(-1)) and minutes of sedentary time per hour (ST…
Perceptions of success of a local UK public health collaborative
Successful public health initiatives require multi-sector collaboration. AVONet was a UK collaborative developed to provide evidence-based strategies for active ageing. This study explored the success of AVONet in the achievement of its objectives as perceived by all partners. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, utilizing a quantitative survey and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Data collection was undertaken in Septe…
Predictors of loneliness and different types of social isolation of rural-living older adults in the United Kingdom
Loneliness and social isolation are recognised, conceptually distinct threats to health and wellbeing in older age but limited evidence is available on their predictors in rural populations. This study performed logistical regression modelling to explore the predictors of loneliness, isolation from one's family and isolation from one's community in 884 British rural-living older adults (57.9% female; mean age = 71.5, standard deviation = 8.1 year…
Moral discourse in general practitioners' accounts of obesity communication
Developing a Citizen Social Science approach to understand urban stress and promote wellbeing in urban communities
This paper sets out the future potential and challenges for developing an interdisciplinary, mixed-method Citizen Social Science approach to researching urban emotions. It focuses on urban stress, which is increasingly noted as a global mental health challenge facing both urbanised and rapidly urbanising societies. The paper reviews the existing use of mobile psychophysiological or biosensing within urban environments—as means of ‘capturing’ the …
Urban Emotion Sensing Beyond ‘Affective Capture’
The use of mobile sensor methodologies in urban analytics to study 'urban emotions' is currently outpacing the science required to rigorously interpret the data generated. Interdisciplinary research on 'urban stress' could help inform urban wellbeing policies relating to healthier commuting and alleviation of work stress. The purpose of this paper is to address-through methodological experimentation-ethical, political and conceptual issues identi…
Employing Participatory Citizen Science Methods to Promote Age-Friendly Environments Worldwide
The trajectory of aging is profoundly impacted by the physical and social environmental contexts in which we live. While “top–down” policy activities can have potentially wide impacts on such contexts, they often take time, resources, and political will, and therefore can be less accessible to underserved communities. This article describes a “bottom–up”, resident-engaged method to advance local environmental and policy change, called Our Voice, …
Profiles of Loneliness and Social Isolation in Physically Active and Inactive Older Adults in Rural England
Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality and physical inactivity in older age. This study explored the socioecological context in which both physically active and inactive older adults experience loneliness and/or social isolation in a UK rural setting. Design: A mixed-methods design employed semi structured interviews and accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (M…
Mobilising people as assets for active ageing promotion
The findings of this study support the value of peer volunteering as a strategy for mobilising community assets in promoting active ageing. To ensure success and longevity, these schemes require appropriate funding and efficient administrative support
Social media use informing behaviours related to physical activity, diet and quality of life during Covid-19
The evidence shows that participants were critical users of social media and were able to use social media to derive benefit for their health and wellbeing. Detailed guidance for those who use social media, as well as those who recommend and endorse social media content is required to maximise the potential of social media to support health behaviours. Future public health strategies and social media interventions should acknowledge diversity in …
Active Aging and Public Health
By 2050, 20% of the world's population will be over the age of 65 years, with projections that 80% of older adults will be living in low- to middle-income countries. Physical inactivity and sedentary time are particularly high in older adults, presenting unique public health challenges. In this article, we first review evidence that points to multiple beneficial outcomes of active aging, including better physical function, cognitive function, men…
Active and healthy ageing in urban environments
Urban age-friendly initiatives strive to promote active and healthy ageing by addressing urban influences that impact individuals as they age. Collaborative community partnerships with multi-level stakeholders are crucial for fostering age-friendly initiatives that can transform urban community health. Employing a citizen social science (CSS) approach, this study aimed to engage older adults and stakeholders in Birmingham, UK, to (i) identify key…
Delivery fidelity of the React (REtirement in ACTion) physical activity and behaviour maintenance intervention for community dwelling older people with mobility limitations
This study highlights successes and improvements needed to enhance delivery fidelity in future implementation of the behavioural maintenance programme of the REACT intervention. Future training of REACT session leaders and assessment of delivery fidelity needs to focus on the delivery of Goal setting and Action Planning, Modelling, Supporting Relatedness, Supporting Self-Efficacy for Physical Activity, and Managing Setbacks/ Problem Solving
Employing citizen science to enhance active and healthy ageing in urban environments
Engaging older residents in problem definition and solution-building is key to the success of place-based initiatives endeavouring to increase the age-friendliness of urban environments. This study employed the Our Voice framework, engaging older adult citizen scientists (n = 14) and community stakeholders (n = 15) across the city of Birmingham, UK. With the aim of identifying urban features impacting age friendliness and co-producing recommendat…
The Role of Urban Environments in Promoting Active and Healthy Aging
Promoting active and healthy aging in urban spaces requires environments with diverse, age-friendly characteristics. This scoping review investigated the associations between urban characteristics and active and healthy aging as identified by citizen science (CS) and other participatory approaches. Using a systematic scoping review procedure, 23 articles employing a CS or participatory approach (participant age range: 54-98 years) were reviewed. …
The REtirement in ACTion exercise programme and its effects on elements of long term functionality in older adults
Background: The prevention of mobility-related disability amongst adults is a global healthcare priority. Cost-effective community-based strategies to improve physical function and independence in older adults with mobility limitations are needed. This study investigated the effectiveness of the REtirement in ACTion (REACT) exercise intervention on individual markers of physical function at 6-and 12-months. Methods: The REACT multicentre randomis…
How can older peer leaders best support motivation for walking in physically inactive older adults? A self-determination theory perspective
Objective We aimed to determine what older adults perceive to be need-supportive behaviours of peer walk leaders, drawing primarily from Self-Determination Theory (SDT).Design Experienced peer leaders (n = 13; Mage = 73.23, SD = 6.55) and walkers (n = 17; Mage = 72.88, SD = 5.79) were recruited from existing walking groups. Individuals who expressed an interest in becoming a peer leader (n = 18; Mage = 72.72, SD = 4.99) or walker (n = 20; Mage = …
Medicine (19 works) · Psychology (17 works) · Gerontology (14 works) · Sociology (14 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (10 works) · Political science (10 works) · Physical Activity and Health (7 works) · Public relations (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Physical therapy (6 works)