Do attitudes toward exercise vary with differences in mobility and disability status? - a study among low-income seniors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine attitudes toward exercise among a vulnerable aged population characterized by low socioeconomic status, poor functional status and lack of available therapeutic exercise resources.


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey among public low-income housing residents (n = 94), aged > 70 years utilizes these assessments: Physician-based Assessment & Counseling for Exercise (PACE) scale, exercise self-efficacy score, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales.


RESULTS
Readiness to exercise differed significantly (p < 0.001) across physical performance levels, and ADL and IADL groups. Exercise self-efficacy also differed significantly (p < 0.001) across performance levels. The highest performance level (score 7 - 12) had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher self-efficacy score (x=7.0+/-2.8) than the medium performance level (score 4 - 6) (x=5.3+/-2.8) and the lowest performance level (0 - 3) (x=4.3+/-2.5) groups. Exercise self-efficacy also differed significantly (p < 0.001) across ADL and IADL groups. However, interest in home-based or class-based exercise participation was high among all groups. More than 70% of subjects reported interest with no significant difference noted among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Attitudes toward exercise are significantly associated with observed physical function and self-reported disability among vulnerable older adults living in public low-income housing.
Bean
Jonathan F
JF
Department PM&R, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. jfbean@partners.org
Bailey
Allison
A
Kiely
Dan K
DK
Leveille
Suzanne G
SG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty