Predicting Decisional Determinants of Physical Activity Among Older Adults: An Integrated Behavior Approach

Abstract

Objectives The present study applied the Integrated Behavior Change Model to investigate how behavioral decisions are predicted, namely, intention, planning, and habits, with respect to physical activity. Methods: Participants were older adults (ages 65+) residing in the U.S. ( N = 667) who completed online measures of behavioral determinants (autonomous motivation, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, attitudes, intention, habit, and consistency), in addition to past behavior. Results: A structural equation model revealed that intention was predicted by past behavior and social-cognitive determinants. Social cognitive determinants mediated between past behavior and habit, as well as between autonomous motivation and habit. Intention mediated between past behavior and planning. Discussion: This study highlights the importance of multiple processes (social cognitive, habit/automatic, and post-intentional/planning) that formulate physical activity intentions. Mediation pathways revealed the importance of autonomous motivation for establishing intentions and habit. Facilitating these processes among older adults could be effective for promoting physical activity.

The Importance of Activating Factors in Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults Using Information and Communication Technologies: Systematic Review

“…Although a large variety of BCTs were integrated to promote activation factors, our findings show that for each activation factor, only a limited number of BCTs from Michie et al [11] and Dugas et al [12] were exploited. Preissner et al [45] highlighted the relevance of multiple behavioral determinants (ie, social cognitive, habitual, automatic, postintentional, and planning processes) to physical activity intention in older adults. Additionally, adult users themselves have identified a variety of BCTs to fulfill their needs and preferences for engagement with physical activity apps [46].…”

A Protection Motivation Theory Approach to Understanding How Fear of Falling Affects Physical Activity Determinants in Older Adults

“…The present study received ethical approval by the institutional Research Ethics Board at McGill University (#350-0119) as part of a larger survey study to examine psychosocial determinants of PA in older adults ( Kaushal et al, 2021 ; Preissner et al, 2021 ). The data to reproduce the present analyses are openly available in Mendeley Data ( http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/nvy6hpy5nk.1 ).…”

“…Third, FoF was explicitly linked to threat appraisal to examine the direct effects of the perceived vulnerability to and the severity of falling on a person’s FoF and the subsequent effects of this pathway on PA intention. Lastly, acknowledging the contemporary gap between intention and behavior ( Sheeran & Webb, 2016 ), we included past PA performance in the model as individuals may likely differ in cognitive and motivational variables based on their PA habits; previous research has demonstrated the importance of such habituation for social cognitions as well as the intention and health behavior in older adults ( Kaushal et al, 2021 ; Preissner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Whereas prior research explored psychosocial, habitual, and planning processes for PA (but omitting fear processes; Preissner et al, 2021 ) and focused on the impact of a fall history on health perceptions and PA using a dual-process approach ( Kaushal et al, 2021 ), this paper adds novel insight into fear and motivational mechanisms by (a) investigating FoF via PMT, a framework specific to explaining behavior modification from a threat prevention perspective; (b) testing the effects of response efficacy, a distinct PMT construct, in the formation of PA intentions; (c) examining the association of physical health and gender with both appraisal pathways and FoF; and (d) investigating the association between coping appraisal and motivation while considering threat appraisal and FoF.…”