Why older adults spend time sedentary and break their sedentary behavior: a mixed methods approach using life-logging equipment

Manon L. Dontje, Calum F. Leask, Juliet Harvey, Dawn A. Skelton, Sebastien F. M. Chastin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)
389 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Older adults are recommended to reduce their sedentary time to promote healthy ageing. To develop effective interventions identifying when, why, and how older adults are able to change their sitting habits is important. The aim of this mixed-method study was to improve our understanding of reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior in older adults. Thirty older adults (74.0 [±5.3] years old, 73% women) were asked about their believed reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior, and about their actual reasons when looking at a personal storyboard with objective records of activPAL monitor data and time-lapse camera pictures showing all their periods of sedentary time in a day. The most often mentioned believed reason for remaining sedentary was television/radio (mentioned by 48.3%), while eating/drinking was most often mentioned as actual reason (96.6%). Only 17.2% believed that food/tea preparation was a reason to break up sitting, while this was an actual reason for 82.8% of the study sample. Results of this study show that there is a discrepancy between believed and actual reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior. These findings suggest developing interventions utilizing the actual reasons for breaking sedentary behavior to reduce sedentary time in older adults.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)259-266
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Aging and Physical Activity
Volume26
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2018

Keywords

  • Accelerometry
  • Aged
  • Interviews as topic
  • Sedentary lifestyle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Gerontology
  • Rehabilitation
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Why older adults spend time sedentary and break their sedentary behavior: a mixed methods approach using life-logging equipment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this