Physical Activity and Social Support to Promote a Health-Promoting Lifestyle in Older Adults: An Intervention Study

Wei-Yang Huang, Hsuan Huang and Cheng-En Wu ()
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Wei-Yang Huang: Physical Education, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Taipei 11464, Taiwan
Hsuan Huang: Department of Occupational Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701401, Taiwan
Cheng-En Wu: Office of Physical Education, Tamkang University, No. 151, Ying-Zhuan Rd., Tamshui, New Taipei City 251301, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of intervention in the form of physical activity and social support while co-exercising to promote a health-promoting lifestyle in older adults. This study openly recruited 60 healthy male older adults, all of whom wore a wrist-worn Garmin device walker. Experimental group A was monitored by a special person and walked together as a group, experimental group B walked independently outdoors, and the control group went about their daily routine as normal. All participants recorded daily steps and calorie consumption data for eight weeks. The results of the study showed that when walking together in experimental group A, the number of daily walks and calories consumed could be maintained at a high level due to the effect of group and social support. The number of daily walks in experimental group B was inconsistent due to the lack of motivation to walk on their own. The control group consumed the lowest number of calories in their daily routine. The results show that physical activity and social support have positive explanatory power for a health-promoting lifestyle. Finally, physical activity in older adults should be promoted, and social support for interaction with peers can effectively promote a healthy lifestyle and respond to the arrival of the super-aged society in advance.

Keywords: super-aged society; physical activity; social support; health-promoting lifestyle; pedometer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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