Abstract
This study aimed to assess the individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors that relate to physical activity (PA) among older adults in rural communities in Wangthong district, Phitsanulok, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 545 elders by multi-stage sampling. The data were collected via a validated questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential determinants of PA. Factors including youngest-old (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI [1.05–2.28]), high level of income (adjusted OR 1.89, 95% CI [1.17–3.19]), being a member of the elders’ club (adjusted OR 1.68, 95% CI [1.15–2.46]), and high level of perceived self-efficacy (adjusted OR 1.79, 95% CI [1.23–2.61]) indicated higher likelihood of PA ( p < .05). Interventions to improve PA among older people should include improving physical environmental attributes, creating more inexpensive and less time-consuming alternatives for PA, promoting peer support networks and activities to enhance self-efficacy.
Highlights
The United Nations defined older persons as those at the age of 60 or 65 years or over
body mass index (BMI) categories were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Consultation (2004). b1 US dollar = 31.7101 Baht in Thai on June 1, 2020
The results suggest that 44% of older adults had high intensity physical activity (PA)
Summary
The United Nations defined older persons as those at the age of 60 or 65 years or over. This cut-off age acts as an indicator of population aging (United Nations, 2020). For Thailand, the older adults are defined as people at the age over 60. A report by the United Nations (2020) suggested that, in SouthEastern Asia, the number of older persons could double between 2019 and 2050. In 2020, Thailand has become an aging society with 16.73% of the population being over 60 years of age (Department of Older Persons, 2020). According to the Foundation of Thai Gerontology Research and Development Institute (TGRI, 2009), over half of older people in Thailand live in rural areas. The 2015 Survey on Health and Welfare (NSO) found that approximately one out of three older persons were overweight, and half of older persons had a chronic illness or condition (TGRI, 2016)
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