Perceived Opportunities for Physical Activity and Willingness to Be More Active in Older Adults with Different Physical Activity Levels

Abstract
This study examined equity in physical activity (PA) by investigating whether perceived opportunity for PA was associated with willingness to be more active. Among community residents (75, 80, or 85 years old, n = 962) perceived opportunity for PA (poor and good), willingness to be more active (not at all, a bit, and a lot), and level of PA (low, moderate, and high) were assessed via questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression showed that physical activity moderated the association between poor opportunity and willingness to increase PA. Among those with moderate PA, poor opportunity for PA increased the odds of willingness to be a lot more active (multinomial odds ratio, mOR 3.90, 95% confidence interval 2.21–6.87) than not wanting to be more active compared to those perceiving good opportunities. Associations were similar at high PA levels (p < 0.001), but were not found at low PA levels. Those with moderate or high PA wish to increase their activity particularly when the perceived opportunities for activity are not optimal. Among those with low PA, perceived opportunities are not associated with a perceived need to increase physical activity. Increasing equity in physical activity in old age requires provision of support and opportunities at every level of physical activity.
Main Authors
Format
Articles Research article
Published
2021
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
MDPI AG
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202106083570Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1661-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116146
Language
English
Published in
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Citation
  • Aartolahti, E., Eronen, J., Törmäkangas, T., Rantanen, T., Hirvensalo, M., Palmberg, L., Skantz, H., Viljanen, A., Portegijs, E., Iwarsson, S., & Rantakokko, M. (2021). Perceived Opportunities for Physical Activity and Willingness to Be More Active in Older Adults with Different Physical Activity Levels. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), Article 6146. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116146
License
CC BY 4.0Open Access
Funder(s)
Research Council of Finland
Funding program(s)
Postdoctoral Researcher, AoF
Tutkijatohtori, SA
Research Council of Finland
Additional information about funding
This study was conducted in collaboration of two research projects: Equality in Participation in Physical Activity in Old Age (Equal-Part) research project funded by Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (P.I. M.R.) and Active Aging—Resilience and external support as modifiers of the disablement outcome (AGNES) research project funded by European Research Council as an Advanced grant to T.R. In addition, funding has been obtained from Academy of Finland (personal grant number 285747 to M.R.) and Finnish Ministry of Education (P.I. E.P.)
Copyright© 2021 the Authors

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