Predictors of physical activity in older adults with borderline hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Physical activity (PA) is effective in controlling blood pressure (BP) and is important in the treatment and prevention of hypertension in the elderly. Reasons for engaging in regular PA are complex and are influenced by personal, interpersonal, and environmental factors.


OBJECTIVE
To test a predictive model of PA in older adults with borderline hypertension.


METHODS
Data were collected from a multiethnic nonprobability sample of 267 men and women 60-75 years of age. The predictor variables were gender, ethnicity, income, previous exercise experience, self-efficacy for PA, perceived health status, awareness of BP, barriers to PA, intrinsic motivation for health, motivation for PA, interpersonal influence, and environmental influence.


RESULTS
The hypothesized model was tested and modified using path analysis. The final model explained 44% of the variance in PA. The variables that directly predicted PA were gender, income, previous exercise experience, self-efficacy for PA, and motivation for PA. Variables that indirectly predicted PA were perceived health status, barriers to PA, self-efficacy for PA, intrinsic motivation for health, and environmental influence.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant associations between the cognitive appraisal and motivation concepts extend previous research and add to the understanding of the complex factors that influence regular PA. The PA model can be a foundation for further research and practice.
Lee
Young-Shin
YS
School of Nursing, San Diego State University, California 92182, USA. ylee@mail.sdsu.edu
Laffrey
Shirley Cloutier
SC
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009042:Motivation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas