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Background: Regular walking improves overall health and functional ability of older adults, yet most are sedentary. Dog ownership/pet responsibility may increase walking in older adults. Goals of this study were to identify factors that influence older adult walking and compare physical activity, functional ability and psychosocial characteristics by dog ownership status., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, older adults (65-95 years of age, n = 1091) completed and returned questionnaires via postal mail. Measures included: Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, Physical Functioning Questionnaire and Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire., Results: Dog owner/dog walkers (n = 77) reported significantly (P < .05) more total walking, walking frequency, leisure and total physical activity and higher total functional ability than dog owner/nondog walkers (n = 83) and nondog owners (n = 931). Dog owner/nondog walkers reported lower intention and perceived behavioral control and a less positive attitude than dog owner/dog walkers (P < .05)., Conclusions: Dog owner/ dog walkers were significantly different than the nondog walker groups in nearly every study variable. Many dog owners (48.1%) reported walking their dogs regularly and the dog owner/dog walkers participated in nearly 50% more total walking than the 2 nondog walking groups, suggesting that pet obligation may provide a purposeful activity that motivates some older dog owners to walk.

Objective: To assess the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and TPB with functional ability to explain intention and self-reported physical activity (PA) behavior of older adults., Methods: A survey was mailed to 2056 retirees from a large Midwestern university., Results: Structural equation modeling revealed that the TPB plus functional ability explained an additional 11% variance than the TPB alone in older adult PA and functional ability was the best predictor of PA (beta = .53, P<.05)., Conclusions: Functional ability appears to be an important predictor of PA behavior and should be included when designing PA programs for older adults.

Minimal contact lifestyle interventions with multiple components coupled with health screening have the potential to improve worker health. The purpose of this study was to test a minimal contact multiple component lifestyle diet and exercise intervention. The multiple components that were included in this project included a worksite health screening, brief counseling session, emailed newsletter, and a pedometer. In response to the intervention, participants reported an increase in green salad, fruit, and vegetable consumption as well as an increase in self-efficacy for consuming three servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Study participants also demonstrated a significant increase in physical activity as shown by their responses to the question, “During leisure time I walk.” A minimal contact multiple component worksite health promotion program with relatively high feasibility and low cost can improve workers’ health-related behaviors, and participants can become more aware of their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To prospectively examine whether physical activity or change in physical activity increases or decreases the risk of disability later in life. Methods: Tobit regression models were used to examine the effect of physical activity at baseline and change from baseline on disability 10 and 20 years later in 6913 adults. Results: Increasing recreational physical activity was associated with reduced risk of disability whereas reducing recreational physical activity increased the risk of disability after 10 years. Conclusions: The analyses reveal a protective effect of sustained physical activity on disability among adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To address a theoretical debate regarding contributions of self-efficacy and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining the amount of variance in stage of readiness to exercise among blue-collar workers. Method: A validated questionnaire was used for assessment. Results: LISREL indicated that self-efficacy had the most influence on stage and TPB constructs were subjugated to self-efficacy. Univariate analyses indicated that self-efficacy and TPB variables are important for intervention. Conclusions: Self-efficacy plays a major role in explaining exercise stage among high-risk blue-collar workers, and self-efficacy and TPB constructs are important to consider in designing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]