title: The effect of social support on exercise behavior in older adults.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the relationship among social supports related to exercise (family, friends, and expert support), self-efficacy expectations, outcome expectations, and exercise behavior in a sample of older adults living in a continuing care retirement community. The sample included 74 older adults with a mean age of 85.6 +/- 5.5. Path analysis using Amos 4.0 was done. The model fit the data (chi-square = 4.6, df = 3, p = .21, normed fit index of .99, relative fit index of .98, and root mean square error of approximation of .08) and explained 53% of the variance in exercise behavior. Five of the seven hypothesized paths in the model were statistically significant. Friend support indirectly influenced exercise through self-efficacy and outcome expectations. This suggests interventions to improve exercise behavior in older adults should incorporate social supports to strengthen self-efficacy and outcome expectations related to exercise.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orwig
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magaziner
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wynne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support