Promoting EXERCISE BEHAVIOR in Older Adults: USING A COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION

Abstract

Health benefits associated with exercise are only obtained when exercise is maintained. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention on exercise behavior and physical outcomes in older adults. All participants were taught progressive flexibility, strength, and endurance exercises. The control group received no additional treatment. The experimental group was taught to recognize negative thoughts related to exercise and to counter these thoughts with more positive ones. Subsequent exercise behavior and physical outcomes were measured in all participants. Cognitive behavioral therapy was moderately to largely effective in improving the majority of physical outcomes assessed. In addition, CBT was moderately effective in improving several components of self-reported exercise behavior and mildly effective in improving exercise behavior overall. Results suggest that nurses can train older adults to identify and modify thoughts that interfere with or reduce their exercise behavior and thus improve physical functioning.

Measurement of physical activity in older adult interventions: a systematic review

“…Citations for reliability were found for 59% of the measures used across studies (43% of objective measures and 65% of self-report),28 29 31–35 37 39 41 43–47 55 57–59 61 63 64 66–68 70 71 and citations for validity were given for 63% of the measures (50% of objective measures and 68% of self-report) 28 29 31–36 39 41 43–47 49 55 57–61 63 64 66–68 70 71. Of the citations for reliability, 100% of the studies using objective measures cited a measurement study,29 33 39 67 68 71 while 88% of the self-report cited a measurement study 28 31–35 37 39 43–47 55 57 58 59 61 64 66. Measurement studies for validity were cited for 100% of the studies using objective measures29 33 39 49 67 68 71 and 88% of the self-report methods 28 29 31–37 39 43–47 55 57 58–61 64 66…”

“…Only 61% of the measures used in the interventions reviewed had previously established reliability (43% of objective measures and 68% of self-report) 28 29 31–35 37–39 41 43–48 55 57 58 59 61 64 66–68 70 71. Validity had been previously determined in 73% of the measures used (64% of objective measures and 76% of self-report) 28 29 31–39 41 43–46 48 49 52 55 57–62 64 66 67 68 70 71.…”

Behavior Change with Fitness Technology in Sedentary Adults: A Review of the Evidence for Increasing Physical Activity

“…This approach can help individuals determine how their internal thoughts guide their exercise behaviors (19). When incorporated successfully into an intervention, CBT techniques can increase physical activity overall, while improving functional health (20). Such strategies that focus on cognitive factors can help inactive people to restructure self-defeating or erroneous thoughts and to develop positive feelings and attitudes toward increasing their activity, and consequently improve their health (19–21).…”

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Exercise, and Older Adults' Quality of Life

“…Based on pilot work (Schneider, Mercer, Herning, Smith, & Davis, 2004), the effect size of .50, an alpha of .05, and a power of .80 indicated that we needed approximately 104 participants per group to address the study's hypothesis (Cohen, 1988). To account for dropout, we recruited 349 participants.…”