Abstract
The study aim is to examine the relationships between self-rated physical activity (PA), health related subjective and objective variables and psychological determinants derived from the Transtheoretical and Social Cognitive theories. The study sample includes 359 respondents aged 60 to 75 years. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) was used to assess the level of PA. As a subjective measure of health status it was used The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2). For objective health determinants were used the Heart Health consulting room cardiovascular risk factors assessment data. Multidimensional Outcome Exercise Expectation Scale (MOEES) data show the beliefs about the benefits of exercise. To detect the involvement in regular PA it was used the Exercise Stages of Change – a short form. The results show that 20.6% of respondents have “low” PA level, 30.4% are “moderate” and 49.0% are ”high” physically active. Nevertheless, only 19.7% exercise regularly more than 6 months and 49.9% do not even plan to engage regular activities in the next 6 months. MOEES data show that outcome expectations decrease with the age, the same as PA. These results influence a subjective health assessment, because more than half of respondents are rated below the General Population Norm of SF-36v2 survey. Moreover, poor adherence to exercise is closely related to higher cardiovascular illness risk (p<0.01).
Highlights
The aging of society will bring social and economic implications affecting most nations across Europe and the world
This study has shown no statistically significant difference between genders in Physical activity (PA) category level, but there are some peculiarities in total physical activity
The study results show that 79.4% of Latvian older adults meet the current physical activity guidelines
Summary
The aging of society will bring social and economic implications affecting most nations across Europe and the world. Physical activity (PA) as a low-cost nonpharmacological intervention could be one of the means to prevent frailty and morbidity in older adults. Physical inactivity has both direct and indirect costs to the health of the population. The report highlights the growing evidence of the benefits of physical activity for the reduction of coronary heart disease, some cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and injury including falls in the older adults’ population. As it is noted in World Health Organization Heidelberg Guidelines for Promoting Physical Activity among Older Persons (WHO, 1997)
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