Abstract
Intergenerational physical activity could be a pleasant method to prevent elderly sedentary behaviors. The aim of this study is to provide a basis to develop an intergenerational physical activity between preschool children and elderly people. An assessing enjoyment three questionnaire survey was administered to 140 participants (aged 67.8 ± 9.1): the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) assessing the sedentariness degree; the physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES-Q) assessing enjoyment for the physical activity usually practiced; the physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES-INT) assessing the enjoyment for a hypothetical intergenerational program. Successively, the sample was divided into subgroups based on age, gender, marital status, education, employment, sports background, sedentariness level and residential location. Four multichoice questions, aiming to have guidelines in organizing an intergenerational program, were used. A total of 44.3% of the sample found the physical activity practiced pleasant, whereas 81.5% enjoyed the intergenerational program (only 7.1% expressed a negative judgment). A separated one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in PACES-INT for gender, (p = 0.009), residential location, (p < 0.001) and employment (p = 0.004). About 80% of the sample would adhere to the intergenerational programs, despite the fatigue fear and logistic or family relationship problems.
Highlights
Sedentariness between children (3 and 5 years of age) and elderly (65 or over) has become a national emergency in Italy
The project proposed a physical activity (PA) program performed by the elderly and children together, in shared distanced spaces and with common goals, entertaining all the participants in an active manner. This condition could increase the level of enjoyment for PA, which is the major factor leading to better adherence to this intergenerational program
The global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) analysis divided the sample according to the PA carried out during the week
Summary
Sedentariness between children (3 and 5 years of age) and elderly (65 or over) has become a national emergency in Italy. The percentage of elderly sedentary people increases with the advancing age. It reaches 45.1% in people over than 65 y.o. and 69.8% in people over 75 y.o. Nine potential but modifiable life-style risk factors in elderly have been identified: less education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes and low social contacts [2]. Regular physical activity (PA), especially practices for a prolonged time, positively influences almost all the other risk factors, with minimal side effects [3]. The aerobic PA carried out regularly positively affects cardiorespiratory fitness and, improving the executive functions and memory, may slow down the cognitive decline [8].
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