Factors Related to Physical Activity Among Older Adults: A Loughborough-Based Study

Population ageing has become a global challenge, impacting healthcare services and healthcare-related industries. Although physical activity has been proven positively related to healthy ageing, the number of older adults being inactive in the United Kingdom is still high. Factors related to physical activity should be better understood to motivate older adults to be more physically active. This paper presented factors related to physical activity based on the literature on behaviour change, motivation, and intervention. A survey was conducted in Loughborough, a town that has enormous sports culture and facilities in the United Kingdom, where 101 participants were recruited. The results of the data analysis revealed new insights into the relationship between behavioural and motivational factors. The physical capability was positively related to intrinsic motivation. Older adults with more social participation had stronger intrinsic motivation and identified regulation. Internet or social media use was significantly correlated to having enough balance training. Intrinsic motivation was significantly correlated with physical activity behaviour and enjoyment, while extrinsic motivation was unrelated. Feeling enjoyment was positively correlated to physical activity behaviour. Although fewer men participated in the study, they gave a significantly higher rating of having enough time for physical activity than female participants. A conceptual model was developed to promote sustained behaviour change using a concentric circle structure which contains three levels and two systems. The model can be used to design better interventions for older adults to increase their physical activity level, which will contribute to the goal of healthy ageing.