Development of the activity card sort--Australia

Aims:   To develop the Activity Card Sort (ACS) — Australia as a tool to measure participation in activities of daily living for older adults.
Methods:   Secondary data analysis of activity diaries of older Australians in Brisbane and Adelaide were utilised for item generation. Survey of older adults and cluster analysis was used for item selection and determination of domains for the ACS-Australia.
Results:   The final ACS-Australia is comprised of 82 activity items, falling under the three domains of household activities, social/educational activities and leisure activities.
Conclusions:   The ACS-Australia has robust properties, wide application and provides a culturally relevant tool to measure participation of older Australians, thus will facilitate rigorous clinical and population-based research.     

Prospective Study of Engagement in Leisure Activities and All-Cause Mortality Among Older Japanese Adults

BackgroundEngagement in leisure activities among older people is associated with a lower risk of mortality. However, no studies have been conducted focusing on the difference of associations with mortality risk among multiple types of leisure activities.MethodsWe examined prospectively the association of engagement in leisure activities with all-cause mortality in a cohort of older Japanese adults. The Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study included 48,216 participants aged 65 years or older. During a mean follow-up period of 5.6 years, we observed 5,575 deaths (11.6%). We investigated the total number of leisure activities, as well as combinations of 25 different leisure activities with Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for potential confounding factors.ResultsWe found a linear relationship between the total number of leisure activities and mortality hazard (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.92–0.95). Furthermore, engagement in leisure activities involving physical activity, as well as group-based interactions, showed the strongest associations with lowered mortality. By contrast, engagement in cultural leisure activities and solitary leisure activities were not associated with all-cause mortality.ConclusionAlthough we cannot rule out residual confounding, our findings suggest that encouraging engagement in physically-active group-based leisure activities may promote longevity in older adults.Key words: aging, leisure activities, Japan, older people     

Ethnic‐specific suggestions for physical activity based on existing recreational physical activity preferences of New Zealand women

Objectives : Recreational physical activities of New Zealand women were examined to develop ethnic‐specific suggestions encouraging physical activity (PA) participation as a targeted approach to reduce obesity rates among different groups. Methods : Healthy Māori, Pacific and European women (n=331; 16–45 years of age) completed an online Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess recreational PA and adherence to PA guidelines. Existing PA preferences were tailored to make ethnic‐specific suggestions aimed at increasing PA participation. Results : Achievement of PA guidelines was: Māori 74%; Pacific 60%; European 70%. Highest participation across all women was for walking (Māori 72%, Pacific 60%, European 83%), followed by floor exercise (Māori 54%, Pacific 37%, European 56%). Gym‐type activities (e.g. weights, aerobics) and jogging were also common across ethnic groups. Group/team activities (dance, netball, touch football) were among the top 10 activities for Māori and Pacific, but not European women. Conclusion : Obesity rates among specific ethnic groups of New Zealand women might be reduced by promoting activities that are: family/whānau‐oriented (netball, touch), community‐linked (hula, dance) and outdoor‐based. Implications for public health : Tailoring existing PA preferences to develop ethnic‐specific sets of activity suggestions could be important avenues to increase PA participation, improving the PA habits and subsequent health of New Zealand women and their communities.     

Gender and leisure-time physical activity

This article discusses the relationship between gender and the social construction of the body, specifically focusing on physical exercise during leisure time. The Pró-Saúde Project is a prospective study consisting of 4,030 employees of a university in Rio de Janeiro, in which we analyzed the answers on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) by 3,740 participants. The results show a prevalence of males in LTPA. Age, schooling, and per capita family income were directly associated with exercise among women, as compared to per capita family among men. Men were more frequently involved in group sports and physical activities that required more strength than women, including football, tennis, volleyball, martial arts, jogging, and weight lifting. Women performed more individual physical activities and those demanding less strength, like walking, dance, gymnastics, and hydrogym. The results suggest that LTPA is a domain of daily life that is organized according to certain conventions, amongst which gender-related conceptions concerning the ideal body, where men and women display distinct behaviors in relation to physical exercise.     

Relationship between components of leisure physical activity and mortality in Taiwanese older adults

BACKGROUND: Whether the major components of leisure physical activity (number of types, intensity, frequency, and duration) have independent contribution to mortality reduction and there is a minimum amount of activity beneficial for the elderly remain unclear. METHODS: The prospective follow-up study aimed at examining the relationship between exercise components and total mortality in general elderly population. A total of 2113 persons aged 65 and older participating in 2001 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey were studied. Information regarding leisure physical activity, its energy parameters, other factors at baseline, and vital status at the end of 2003 was analyzed with Cox model. RESULTS: A total of 197 deaths occurred during a 2-year follow-up. Regular exercisers reduced 35% risk of death compared with sedentary individuals after adjustment for covariates. Moreover, exercisers with a weekly amount of energy exceeding 1000 kcal had significant benefit of risk reduction when energy expenditure is considered. There was a significant dose-response relationship between number of activity and the reduction in total mortality. The benefit on mortality reduction among the three components of total energy amount was only observed in intensity. CONCLUSIONS: For the amount of energy dedicated to leisure physical activity, older persons are recommended to expend at least 1000 kcal per week through regular exercise for mortality reduction. In addition to energy amount, protection of exercise against death also increases with the number of activities. Among the three components of total amount of energy, only intensity is significantly associated with mortality reduction.     

The Patterns of Activity,and Transport to Activities Among Older Adults in Singapore

BackgroundEngagement in occupations is important, and appropriate transportation modes are necessary for continued activity participation in the community. The aim of this study was to explore the patterns of activity and transportation methods used by older adults and the links between their transport use and activity engagement in Singapore.MethodsFifty-six participants aged 50 years and older recorded in a time diary (in English or Mandarin) their activity participation over 24 hours on a weekday or weekday and weekend day. Data on the participants’ out-of-home activities were analyzed using parametric statistics, including Student t-tests and analyses of variance, along with visual inspection of the data.ResultsNo significant difference was found between time spent out of the house on weekdays and weekends on the variables of sex, age, and self-reported health status, and between living situation and time spent out of the house for drivers and nondrivers. The participants undertook a wide variety of activities including work, singing with friends, and shopping, and most frequently left their house to shop, exercise, or meet family/friends or participate in leisure activities. The participants were found to be able to use several transportation methods to access these activities, and they were satisfied with how they traveled to them.ConclusionThis study contributes to the understanding of the activity engagement of older adults in Singapore. It has highlighted participants’ engagement in neighborhood activities and the importance and preference to walk or use public transportation to access activities. Additionally, this study has highlighted the need to consider the issues surrounding occupational performance in older adults.     

Productive Aging: A Quality of Life Agenda

Although the fact that, in general, the US population is living longer is said to be the public health success story of the 20th century, the boom in the population aged 65 years and older is having and will continue to have major implications for all age groups as well as for the nation's health, social, and economic institutions. The concept of productive aging can provide guidance in addressing these implications. The assumptions of productive aging reflect today's reality that older people are repositories of wisdom and experience and important assets for society; relatively healthy, with the potential for maintaining that condition until late in life; capable of making economic and social contributions that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities; and in need of purposeful and meaningful roles and activities in life. A productive aging activity model emphasizes involvement in paid work, volunteerism, education, fitness and exercise, leisure and travel, advocacy and political action, and consumerism. This article discusses the concept of productive aging, a related activity model, and qualitative focus group research undertaken in conjunction with the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:1445–1448.     

Levels of customary physical activity among the old and the very old living at home.

With an activity inventory designed specifically for use among elderly people, detailed profiles of customary physical activity were obtained from 507 old (aged 65-74 years) and 535 very old (aged 75 years and over) individuals randomly sampled from the community. Participation in four categories of activity was assessed: outdoor productive activities; indoor productive activities; leisure activities; and walking. Customary engagement in many activities was found to be low, age (old versus very old) and sex being among the most important determinants of participation. The method of assessment is described, and activity profiles normative for older age groups are presented.     

Leisure time exercise and personal circumstances in the working age population: longitudinal analysis of the British household panel survey

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the impact of social, economic, and family circumstances on participation in weekly leisure time exercise. DESIGN: Longitudinal regression analysis of the British household panel survey. PARTICIPANTS: 9473 people (4521 men and 4952 women) giving 27,881 person years of responses across eight years and four survey waves. MAIN RESULTS: There was considerable variation among people in regular exercise participation over time. Having children was associated with a reduced likelihood of exercise for both men and women, although there were sex differences in this association according to the age of the youngest child. For both men and women working long hours was associated with a reduced likelihood of exercise, as was having a lower grade job. Retired men and women were more likely to exercise, as were those who attended a fee paying school. There was no strong independent association between household income and exercise. CONCLUSIONS: For most people, participation in leisure time exercise "comes and goes" rather than being something they always or never do. Those with time pressures from work or domestic life are less likely to participate in leisure time physical activity. There are important sex differences in the impact of having children, with women experiencing longer term detrimental effects. Working long hours reduces leisure time exercise participation. Opportunities for physical activity as part of our daily working routines should be increased.     

In their own voices: definitions and interpretations of physical activity.

Terms such as physical activity, exercise, and leisure are perceived and interpreted differently by people differing in gender, class, and sociocultural factors. We accessed multiple diverse data sources (including qualitative data recently collected in research and evaluation studies) to explore African-American and American Indian women's (age 40+) definitions, meanings, and interpretations of "physical activity". These women reported that physical activity is typically considered to be structured "exercise" and not incidental activities of daily life. The term "leisure" was interpreted from a cultural perspective as being lazy. These women also had difficulty understanding the meaning of "intensity" (e.g., "moderate", "vigorous"). Researchers must acknowledge and understand inconsistencies that arise and how these might influence design of, and responses to, self-report assessment of physical activity.     

The Quality of Dyadic Relationships,Leisure Activities and Health Among Older Women

We examined the combined influence of dyadic relationships and leisure activities on health. We used self-administered survey to collect data at senior centers from French and English older women (N = 257) in Montreal, Quebec. Multiple regression analyses (OLS) were used to examine the maineffects of dyadic quality and leisure activities on physical and mental health. Despite controlling for specific dyadic groups, meals, and bingo, we find that the quality of dyadic relationships has a strong influence on mental health measured by spirit, happiness, and an interesting life. Leisure activities are also a significant predictor and appear to improve physical health measured by self-reported health and the number of chronic conditions. Implications for gerontology practitioners in the United States, Canada, and other Western cultures, along with research strategies, are discussed.     

Running free: embracing a healthy lifestyle through distance running

Sport and leisure activity contribute to both health and quality of life. There is a dearth of qualitative studies on the lived experiences of active people, so the aim of this paper is to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of one particular group of active leisure participants, distance runners, and to highlight the associated health and well-being benefits that result from participating in this increasingly popular form of active leisure. In doing so, this paper will briefly explore the potential opportunities and implications for sport and leisure policy and provision, and highlight examples of how distance running could positively contribute towards government objectives linked to tackling obesity levels, healthy living and physical well-being. It is suggested that similar benefits also exist across other forms of physical activity, exercise and sport. Qualitative methods of enquiry were adopted to understand the nature of the social world of long distance runners through interviews and observations, which were thematically analyzed. One of the key themes emerging from the data was the desire to embrace a healthy lifestyle, which then led to the emergence of four main sub-themes. The first was linked to the importance of seeking self-esteem and confirmation through running; second, an investigation of a selection of negative aspects associated with exercise addiction; third, the need to exercise among sport and leisure participants; and finally, an understanding of the concept of the 'running body'. Cautionary notes also identified negative aspects associated with exercise and physical activity. The findings highlight the potential role that distance running can play as an easily accessible and enjoyable leisure activity, one that can help facilitate increased participation in exercise and physical activity as an integral part of an active and healthy lifestyle.     

"Cultivating health": therapeutic landscapes and older people in northern England

While gardening is seen, essentially, as a leisure activity it has also been suggested that the cultivation of a garden plot offers a simple way of harnessing the healing power of nature (The therapeutic garden, Bantam Press, London, 2000). One implication of this is that gardens and gardening activity may offer a key site of comfort and a vital opportunity for an individual's emotional, physical and spiritual renewal. Understanding the extent to which this supposition may be grounded in evidence underpins this paper. In particular, we examine how communal gardening activity on allotments might contribute to the maintenance of health and well being amongst older people. Drawing on recently completed research in northern England, we examine firstly the importance of the wider landscape and the domestic garden in the lives of older people. We then turn our attention to gardening activity on allotments. Based on the findings of our study, we illustrate the sense of achievement, satisfaction and aesthetic pleasure that older people can gain from their gardening activity. However, while older people continue to enjoy the pursuit of gardening, the physical shortcomings attached to the aging process means they may increasingly require support to do so. Communal gardening on allotment sites, we maintain, creates inclusionary spaces in which older people benefit from gardening activity in a mutually supportive environment that combats social isolation and contributes to the development of their social networks. By enhancing the quality of life and emotional well being of older people, we maintain that communal gardening sites offer one practical way in which it may be possible to develop a 'therapeutic landscape'.     

'I feel totally at one, totally alive and totally happy': a psycho-social explanation of the physical activity and mental health relationship

This paper reports findings from a qualitative investigation into the relationship between physical activity and mental health from the experiences of participants on exercise referral schemes. A grounded theory methodology was adopted which used focus groups and semi-structured interviews with participants from three exercise referral schemes in England. Schemes were representative of different types within the UK, and included a local authority leisure centre, a private health club and a local authority leisure centre scheme with organized countryside hikes. Pre- and post-exercise referral intervention focus groups, and interviews with purposively sampled individuals, were undertaken. Eighteen people participated and interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed. A conceptual framework emerged, and provides a psycho-social explanation for the physical activity and mental health relationship from the perspectives of the participants' who experienced it. The explanation of the relationship from this perspective identifies the core category 'self-acceptance', and the importance and interrelationship of context-related factors (such as social support and the physical environment), for the elicitation of positive experiences for people on exercise referral schemes. Investigating participant's experiences within the social contexts of exercise referral schemes provides an understanding about whether schemes have the potential to influence the mental health of referred patients.     

Prevalence and correlates of participation in fall prevention exercise/physical activity by older adults

ObjectiveTo examine older people's participation in fall prevention exercise/physical activities.MethodsParticipants comprised 5,681 randomly selected older people (≥ 65 years) who took part in the 2009 New South Wales (Australia) Fall Prevention telephone survey (61% response-rate). The instrument consisted of 11 prompted activities including two separate questions on participation in strength and balance training. Tai chi, dance, team sports, golf, bowls and specific balance training were classified as balance-challenging activities. Correlates of low participation were examined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOne in eight older people (12.0%, 95% CI: 11.0–13.0) participated in strength training, 6.0% (95% CI: 5.2–6.7) participated in balance training and 21.8% (95% CI: 20.5–23.0) participated in balance-challenging activities. Adherence to public health recommendations (≥ 2 days/week) for strength or balance-challenging activities was reported by 21.0% (95% CI: 9.8–22.2) with 5.3% adhering to both forms. Engagements in strength or in balance-challenging activities were lower among those who had low education (< high-school), lived in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, were obese, had fair/poor self-rated health, had problems with walking or used a walking aid or had fallen in the past year.ConclusionParticipation in best practice exercise to prevent falls is low. Population-based approaches and targeted strategies for high-risk group are needed.     

Prevalence and correlates of participation in fall prevention exercise/physical activity by older adults

ObjectiveTo examine older people's participation in fall prevention exercise/physical activities.MethodsParticipants comprised 5,681 randomly selected older people (≥ 65 years) who took part in the 2009 New South Wales (Australia) Fall Prevention telephone survey (61% response-rate). The instrument consisted of 11 prompted activities including two separate questions on participation in strength and balance training. Tai chi, dance, team sports, golf, bowls and specific balance training were classified as balance-challenging activities. Correlates of low participation were examined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOne in eight older people (12.0%, 95% CI: 11.0–13.0) participated in strength training, 6.0% (95% CI: 5.2–6.7) participated in balance training and 21.8% (95% CI: 20.5–23.0) participated in balance-challenging activities. Adherence to public health recommendations (≥ 2 days/week) for strength or balance-challenging activities was reported by 21.0% (95% CI: 9.8–22.2) with 5.3% adhering to both forms. Engagements in strength or in balance-challenging activities were lower among those who had low education (< high-school), lived in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, were obese, had fair/poor self-rated health, had problems with walking or used a walking aid or had fallen in the past year.ConclusionParticipation in best practice exercise to prevent falls is low. Population-based approaches and targeted strategies for high-risk group are needed.     

Correlates of objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time in children: a cross-sectional study (The European Youth Heart Study)

Background  

Identifying leisure time activities performed before and after school that influence time in physical activity (PA) and/or time spent sedentary can provide useful information when designing interventions aimed to promote an active lifestyle in young people. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between mode of transportation to school, outdoor play after school, participation in exercise in clubs, and TV viewing with objectively assessed PA and sedentary behaviour in children.     

Internet provision of tailored advice on falls prevention activities for older people: a randomized controlled evaluation

Falls are very common in older persons and can result in substantial disability and distress. By undertaking strength and balance training (SBT) exercises, older people can reduce their risk of falling. The Internet offers a potentially cost-effective means of disseminating information about SBT to older people and their carers. A particular advantage of using the Internet for this purpose is that the advice given can be 'tailored' to the needs of the individual. This study used a randomized controlled design to evaluate an interactive web-based program that tailored advice about undertaking SBT activities. The participants were 280 people with an age range of 65-97 years recruited by advertising the website by email and the Internet. Those randomized to the tailored advice were presented with advice tailored to their personal self-rated balance capabilities, health problems and activity preferences. Those in the control group were presented with all the advice from which the tailored advice was selected. After reading the advice, those in the tailored advice group (n = 144) had more positive attitudes (p < 0.01) than those in the control group (n = 136), reporting greater perceived relevance of the SBT activities, greater confidence in the ability to carry them out, and hence stronger intentions to undertake the activities. This study provides an initial indication that an interactive website might offer a cost-effective way to provide personalized advice to some older people. Further research is required to determine whether website-based advice on falls prevention changes behavior as well as intentions and whether the advice needs to be supplemented by other forms of support.