Ecological Predictors of Older Adults’ Participation and Retention in a Physical Activity Intervention

Manuela Peters, Tiara Ratz, Frauke Wichmann, Sonia Lippke, Claudia Voelcker-Rehage and Claudia R. Pischke
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Manuela Peters: Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Tiara Ratz: Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Frauke Wichmann: Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Sonia Lippke: Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage: Department of Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
Claudia R. Pischke: Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: Research is still lacking regarding the question as to how programs to promote healthy ageing should be organized in order to increase acceptance and thus effectiveness. For older adults, ecological factors, such as the physical distance to program sites, might predict participation and retention. Thus, the key aim of this analysis was to examine these factors in a physical activity intervention trial. Adults ( N = 8299) aged 65 to 75 years were invited to participate and n = 589 participants were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups with 10 weeks of physical activity home practice and exercise classes or a wait-list control group. Response, participation, and dropout data were compared regarding ecological, individual, and study-related variables. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression models were used to determine predictors of dropout. In total, 405 participants completed the study. Weekly class attendance rates were examined regarding significant weather conditions and holiday periods. The highest rates of nonresponse were observed in districts with very high neighborhood levels of socioeconomic status. In this study, ecological factors did not appear to be significant predictors of dropout, whereas certain individual and study-related variables were predictive. Future studies should consider these factors during program planning to mobilize and keep subjects in the program.

Keywords: response; dropout; older adults; physical activity interventions; OSM; GIS (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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