Planning for a Healthy Aging Program to Reduce Sedentary Behavior: Perceptions among Diverse Older Adults

Efekona Nuwere, Bethany Barone Gibbs, Pamela E. Toto and Sharon E. Taverno Ross
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Efekona Nuwere: Department of Occupational Therapy, Long Island University, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
Bethany Barone Gibbs: Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Pamela E. Toto: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Sharon E. Taverno Ross: Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: Reducing prolonged engagement in sedentary behavior is increasingly considered a viable pathway to older-adult health and continued functional ability. Community-based programs that aim to increase physical activity can improve programs’ acceptability by integrating older adults’ perspectives on sedentary behavior and healthy aging into their design. The purpose of this study was to better understand the perceptions of a diverse group of community-dwelling older adults regarding sedentary behavior and its influence on healthy aging. Six focus group discussions with forty-six participants took place across two senior centers in New York City. Self-report questionnaires about daily activity patterns, general health status, and typical sedentary behaviors were also completed by the participants and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive and deductive approaches and an ecological framework to identify salient themes. A qualitative analysis revealed that the participants were aware of the physical costs of engaging in prolonged sedentary behavior. However, many routine sedentary activities were perceived to be health-promoting and of psychological, cognitive, or social value. The insights gained can inform the development of senior-center programs and health-promotion messaging strategies that aim to reduce older adults’ sedentary behavior.

Keywords: sedentary behavior; sitting; older adults; healthy aging; qualitative; perceptions; program development; senior center (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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