THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL FUNCTION, CURRENT PHYSICAL BEHAVIOR, STAGES OF CHANGE AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG PHYSICALLY INDEPENDENT OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical function, current physical activity behavior, stages of change and life satisfaction in older adults who live independently in the community. This study used three physical performance assessments from AAHPERD's Functional Fitness Assessment For Adults Over 60 Years (1992), to examine the physical function as the dependent variable. These dependent variables were coordination, strength, and agility. The independent variables were the results from the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) (Washburn, 1993), Stages of Change (SOC) (Barke and Nicholas, 1990) and, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Deiner, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin, 1985). Subjects were 128 residents living in Warrensburg and Sedalia, Missouri, who were living independently in the community, age 70 or older. Individuals, church groups, professional organizations and apartment managers were contacted personally first by phone and followed with a personal visit or a written proposal. The results The total PASE score ranged from 25 to 391. The mean PASE score was 122.79 (SD = 63.38). The SOC was in categories of precontemplation (9.4%), contemplation (10.9%), preparation (18.8%), action (2.3%), and maintenance (58.6%). The correlation between total PASE and SOC scores were significant at the .05 level (r = 0.241). Satisfaction with Life Scale showed no relationship between any dependent or independent variable. The mean score for SWLS was 27.34 (SD = 6.01). The following physical fitness correlations were significant at the .05 level: coordination and strength (r = −0.374), coordination and agility (r = 0.616) and strength and agility (r = 0.492). The relationship between dependent and independent variables that were significant at .05 level were 1.) coordination and PASE (r = −0.177), 2.) strength and PASE (r = 0.383), 3.) agility and PASE (r = 0.336), 4.) SOC and coordination (r = −0.224), 5.) SOC and strength (r = 0.317) and 5.) SOC and agility (r = −0.222). It was concluded that adults interested in physical activity were living physically active lifestyles. This study suggests that coordination, strength and agility/balance are components of living active lifestyles.