Older adults and exercise: path analysis of self-efficacy related constructs.
BACKGROUND
Despite the potential benefits of exercise, rates of exercise among older adults remain low. Self-efficacy expectation is the strongest correlate of exercise behavior or exercise behavior change.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and test the predictive ability of a model of exercise among older adults.


METHODS
The model's constructs related to exercise and self-efficacy included outcome expectancy, perceived barriers to exercise, perceived health, age, and lifelong leisure exercise among adults 65 to 100 years years of age (N=147). Data were collected by personal interview and analyzed with path analysis.


RESULTS
Self-efficacy expectation had a strong direct effect on exercise. Outcome expectancy contributed little to exercise in the model. Perceived barriers and self-efficacy expectation, followed by age, exerted the most total influence on exercise scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Lifelong leisure exercise exerts its influence on exercise through self-efficacy beliefs, further emphasizing the importance of efficacy. Also important are perceived barriers to exercise. Further research should examine self-efficacy expectations, perceived barriers, and age as predictors of exercise among older adults at different stages of health behavior change.
Conn
V S
VS
Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri-Columbia, 65211, USA.
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires