“It’s not time for us to sit down yet”: how group exercise programs can motivate physical activity and overcome barriers in inactive older adults

Abstract

Purpose Physical activity and exercise are critical for older adults’ physical and mental health. The purpose of this qualitative study was to richly capture the motivators of and barriers to engaging in physical activity in previously inactive older adults who participated in a three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) of eight-week group exercise interventions. Methods We conducted a qualitative content analysis of individual interviews with fifteen participants—five from each study arm: strength training, walking, and inactive control. Participants included nine females and six males ranging from 60 to 86 years of age. Results Key motivators of physical activity included perceived improvements in physical and mental health, positive social influences, observed health deterioration in others, and the desire to spend time with and take care of family members. Barriers to physical activity included existing health conditions, fear of getting hurt, negative social influences, perceived lack of time and motivation, inconvenient times and locations, and monetary cost. Conclusions Our findings add to the body of literature identifying factors that motivate and stand in the way of older adults’ engagement in physical activity. These factors influence older adults’ self-efficacy and should be incorporated into the design of new and existing programs to encourage initiation and maintenance of physical activity.

Experiences of Indonesian people with dementia and carers undertaking an online-delivered exercise program

“… Cheng (2017) suggested that the most common challenges experienced by carers of people living with dementia relate to Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms associated with Dementia, as they can substantially contribute to distress for the carer. A study by Royse et al (2023) identified that positive social influences and the desire to spend time with family members can mitigate the challenges of older people in engaging in exercise. The factors in motivating older people to exercise can inform future programs in designing the online-delivered exercise program for people with dementia.…”

Barriers and facilitators to older adult participation in intergenerational physical activity program: a systematic review

“…Additionally, self-efficacy plays a crucial role in this process. Royse's research also suggests that exercise can enhance self-efficacy and increase PA, creating a positive cycle that promotes a positive lifestyle [ 52 ]. In Wu's research, encouraging the elderly to participate in choreography in intergenerational dance activities not only improves the self-efficacy and sense of accomplishment of the elderly but also improves their creativity and activity motivation [ 17 ].…”

Implementation and Core Components of a Multimodal Program including Exercise and Nutrition in Prevention and Treatment of Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Narrative Review

“…Besides beliefs and individual preferences, group-based settings may embed several interpersonal factors predictive to exercise engagement and maintenance. Indeed, qualitative studies reported that self-reliance, social bonds, peer support and exercise learning influence self-efficacy, which is highly determinant for long-term PA maintenance in older adults [76,77,269,270]. Additionally, group-based settings may support involvement and empowerment to promote self-efficacy [163], while home-based settings seem to induce only short-term improvements that were lost after follow-up [271].…”