Explicating Physical Activity Preferences of Community-Dwelling Filipino Elderly in Urban and Rural Settings: A Conjoint Analysis

Abstract

The elderly have special health needs and nutritional requirements that can be managed and compensated with the help of physical activity (PA). Despite the benefits accruing from physical activity in the literature, a number of people still do not engage in physical activity. The need to know about physical activity preference of the elderly still remains a research imperative, hence this conjoint analysis investigation. The objective of this study is to identify the physical activity preferences of a select group of community-dwelling Filipino elderly. With the use of conjoint analysis, a total of 300 respondents were chosen purposively. Data were gathered through orthogonal cards, which were then descriptively and inferentially analyzed with the use of SPSS Software version 18. The most important attribute in terms of physical activity is its type. Elderly clients tend to perform light PA every day, in the outdoors, in the morning, for more than 30 minutes, and with a companion. Results suggest that there are related factors that may impede or promote PA in the elderly, of which are age, duration, and chronic illness. These preferences, if integrated into formulating PA programs, can facilitate the promotion of the latter and meet the special health needs of the elderly. Moreover, future research may utilize this study to investigate why such differences in physical activity preferences were noted in terms of gender and place of residence and how these preferences reflect the reasoning and mental well-being of elderly.