Title : Physical self perceptions and activity involvement in the older population: Motivation toward a improved quality of life
Abstract:
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of activity involvement to physical self-perceptions in people 55-75 years of age.
Subjects: Fifty-two males and 48 females responded to a modified physical activity questionnaire.
Methodology: Using a physical activity questionnaire that quantified activity (frequency, activity&duration) and grouped activities into categories (sports, fitness, recreational and practical), an activity Index (AI = frequency, mean intensity+mean duration) was calculated to identify activity patterns. Comparisons of total and type of activity involvement were made for all sex and age groups. Stepwise multiple regressions were used to investigate the extent to which physical self-perceptions were associated with the type of activity chosen.
Results: Overall, males tended to be more active than females (AI=133 -vs- 121, respectively), with males between 55-59.9 years of age being most active (AI=221.6). Both show largest participation in the fitness activities (50%). There was a general trend toward less activity with age. Using the Physical Self-Perceptions Profile-Adults (PSPP-A), the categories of activities underwent a stepwise multiple regression to determine which sub-domain sub-scale emerged as the best predictor of involvement in that given activity category. Perceived Sport Competence was a predictor of sports activity in males and females. Perceived Appearance and Health/Disease sub-domains were predictors of activity involvement in females (R=.58,.65, respectively). For males, perceived Functional Capacity and perceived Sport Competence occurred more often as predictors of activity involvement (R=.397,.54, respectively) Gender comparisons of PSPP-A sub-scale scores show that, in males, Appearance sub-scale scores decreased, and Functional Capacity and Health/Disease sub-scale scores increased with age. In females, Sports sub-scale scores decreased, and Functional Capacity and Health/Disease sub-scale scores increased with age.
Conclusions: As the average age of the population increases, healthcare professionals will be dealing with an older population, on average, than they are now. Knowledge of the older population's current activity patterns & choices may provide understanding into what patients comprehend and/or value. Those interrelationships to physical self-perception can give health care workers valuable tools to motivate their clientele to an improved quality of life.
