1. Change in physical activity beliefs among culturally diverse older adults.
- Author
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Antikainen, Iina E., Ellis, Rebecca, and Kosma, Maria
- Subjects
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PLANNED behavior theory , *HEALTH behavior , *PHYSICAL fitness for older people , *HEALTH education , *EXERCISE for older people , *QUALITY of life , *LIFE expectancy , *HEALTH promotion , *BEHAVIOR modification , *PSYCHOLOGY - Abstract
Physical activity is associated with longer life expectancy, increased quality of life, and the number of years of healthy life; however, only 15% of American adults achieve the recommended amount of physical activity, with minorities, older adults, and people with low-income levels being most inactive (USDHHS, 2000). Based on the theory of planned behavior, a person's beliefs about physical activity may help explain their participation. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the number of behavioral beliefs (i.e., advantages and disadvantages), normative beliefs (i.e., people who approve or disapprove), and control beliefs (i.e., barriers and facilitators) for physical activity following a 16-week home-based physical activity program in a group of culturally diverse older adults. Participants were 48 adults age 50 to 93 years (71% Black, 56% < high school education, 65% < $20,000 annually) who were randomly assigned to receive standard education (n = 24) or culturally sensitive education (n = 24) materials about the principles of physical activity. The program began with a home visit that included the education component and a physical activity demonstration followed by 16 weeks of home-based physical activity. Physical activity beliefs were elicited using six open-ended questions before and after participating in the program and individual beliefs were determined by frequency counts. Repeated measures with Bonferroni correction revealed no significant changes from pre- to postprogram in beliefs across groups for advantages of physical activity (p = .33), disadvantages of physical activity (p = .91), people who approve of physical activity (p = .56), people who disapprove of physical activity (p = .76), barriers to physical activity (p = .05), or enabling factors of physical activity (p = 1.0). Results indicate that participation in a 16-week home-based physical activity program did not change the physical activity beliefs of culturally diverse older adults; however, lack of statistical power is a limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007