Determinants of physical activity adoption and maintenance in older adults: a dual process approach

Key Points

1. When addressing older adult’s inadequate physical activity, it is important to consider determinants that impact their physical activity levels.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Despite well-known and recognized benefits of regular physical activity (PA), only 9% of older adults perform the recommended levels of PA (1). An essential part of helping older adults become more active is understanding the determinants that impact their decision to perform or not perform PA. Two determinants of participation in PA are reflective and automatic.

Reflective determinants are conscious, effortful factors that influence behavior, including self-efficacy, self-control, and emotional regulation. While automatic determinants are unconscious, effortless cues that arise from past experiences and associative learning, including positive and negative affect, the physical and social context, and the stability of one's habits. The understanding of how both reflective and automatic determinants influence physical activity behavior in older adults is limited.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between reflective and automatic determinants among older adults who adopt and maintain physical activity and those who do not.

Despite well-known and recognized benefits of regular physical activity, only 9% of older adults perform the recommended levels of physical activity.

For those who are just starting physical activity and are aiming to increase step-count, behavior change techniques such as having them write goals and action plans can increase their likelihood of becoming more active.

METHODS

Design: Secondary analysis of Project SMART (Studying Maintenance and Adoption in Real-Time).

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