Perceived Opportunities for Physical Activity and Willingness to Be More Active in Older Adults with Different Physical Activity Levels

Eeva Aartolahti, Johanna Eronen, Timo Törmäkangas, Taina Rantanen, Mirja Hirvensalo, Lotta Palmberg, Heidi Skantz, Anne Viljanen, Erja Portegijs, Susanne Iwarsson and Merja Rantakokko
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Eeva Aartolahti: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Johanna Eronen: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Timo Törmäkangas: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Taina Rantanen: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Mirja Hirvensalo: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Lotta Palmberg: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Heidi Skantz: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Anne Viljanen: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Erja Portegijs: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Susanne Iwarsson: Department of Health Sciences & Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments (CASE), Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
Merja Rantakokko: Institute of Rehabilitation, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, FI-40100 Jyväskylä, Finland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: This study examined equity in physical activity (PA) by investigating whether perceived opportunity for PA was associated with willingness to be more active. Among community residents (75, 80, or 85 years old, n = 962) perceived opportunity for PA (poor and good), willingness to be more active (not at all, a bit, and a lot), and level of PA (low, moderate, and high) were assessed via questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regression showed that physical activity moderated the association between poor opportunity and willingness to increase PA. Among those with moderate PA, poor opportunity for PA increased the odds of willingness to be a lot more active (multinomial odds ratio, mOR 3.90, 95% confidence interval 2.21–6.87) than not wanting to be more active compared to those perceiving good opportunities. Associations were similar at high PA levels ( p < 0.001), but were not found at low PA levels. Those with moderate or high PA wish to increase their activity particularly when the perceived opportunities for activity are not optimal. Among those with low PA, perceived opportunities are not associated with a perceived need to increase physical activity. Increasing equity in physical activity in old age requires provision of support and opportunities at every level of physical activity.

Keywords: equity; unmet need; physical function; aging; exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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