Motivating Inactive Seniors to Participate in Physical Activity

Objectives: We investigated the potential of social support in an adherence intervention to foster physical activity (PA) among sedentary older adults. Methods: We compared 2, 9-week intervention programs aimed at increasing PA levels in older persons. One program offered PA alone, whereas the other combined a PA program with a social adherence intervention (PASAI). The interventions involved 39 sedentary older adults living in senior congregate housing in Israel, each randomly assigned to an intervention program. Information about PA levels, self-efficacy, and social support for exercise was collected through personal interviews before, after, and at a one-month follow-up. At follow-up, participants were asked to report whether they remained in contact with other group members. Results: PASAI program participants showed significantly higher levels of PA compared to PA program participants. Both self-efficacy and social support were associated with changes in PA. In the PASAI program, 67% of participants remained in contact with other group members; by contrast, PA participants did not maintain any contact. Conclusion: Self-efficacy perception and on-going social support encourage adherence to PA

Intervention (counseling · Physical activity · Physical therapy · Psychological intervention · Randomized controlled trial · Self-efficacy · Social support · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Physical Activity and Health · Psychology · Gerontology

• Physical Activity Interventions Among Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses

  Open Access•Ward Heij, Lieke Sweerts et al.•SAGE Open•2024

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