Older adults concern for personal health linked to walking difficulty
Older adults who worry about their health engage in
less physical activity, and those who participate in less activity are
more likely to report having difficulty walking, according to a new study.
The research, featured in the current issue of Research Quarterly for
Exercise and Sport, was conducted by lead author Kin-Kit Li of The
University of Hong Kong when he was a doctoral student at Oregon State
University, and coauthored by Bradley Cardinal and Samuel Vuchinich,
faculty members at OSU.
Mobility, which declines with aging, has been identified as one of the
key topics in aging research, as walking difficulty reduces quality of
life. Most studies have emphasized the behavioral or physiological
mechanisms that lead to walking difficulty among older adults. Not until
recently have researchers started to look at possible psychological effects.
Health worry has been suggested to have an interesting mix of effects on
health behaviors and outcomes. Some studies have suggested health worry
may be considered a protective mechanism, which motivates people to
engage in health behaviors such as regular physical activity. However,
this study showed the opposite relationship. In a representative sample
of older adults in the United States, people with a high degree of
health worry engaged in less physical activity.
Health worry, physical inactivity, and walking difficulty may actually
combine to have a negative effect on each other, the researchers say.
"Our research shows that a key component to avoid walking difficulty in
older adults is to resolve health worry issues earlier in life," said
Cardinal, a professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise
Science at OSU.
Health professionals often use warnings of diseases and premature death
to promote physical activity. The authors suggest that health-related
information should include appropriate self-regulation and coping
strategies for health worry. Instead of using health threat as a
motivator, evidence-based programs for behavior change should be
implemented.
"Using threats and fear-tactics to encourage physical activity in older
adults will not work," Cardinal said.
Cardinal's past studies have shown that matching various behavioral
change strategies with participants' readiness for change is effective.
In addition, implementing screening tools, such as the revised Physical
Activity Readiness Questionnaire prior to initiating a physical activity
program, should be considered for use more widely among older adults.
These strategies would ease concerns about the associated risks of
participating in physical activity, the authors note, and as a result
older adults could benefit from increased physical activity participation.
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