Differential determinants of men's and women's everyday physical activity in later life.
OBJECTIVE
The present study of a representative sample of older adults quantified everyday physical activity (EPA) by having participants wear actigraphs. Our objectives were to examine whether poor health may partly explain why older adults become less physically active with advancing age and whether gender might moderate the extent to which health status predicts EPA.


METHODS
We performed multiple regression analyses on a sample of older, community-dwelling adults (aged 80-98 years, N = 198; women = 63.1%).


RESULTS
The results imply that age-related declines in EPA may be partially accounted for by health (in men) and by living arrangements (in women).


CONCLUSIONS
We consider reasons why poorer health might erode EPA for men (but not women) and why living alone might erode EPA for women (but not men).
Chipperfield
Judith G
JG
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, R3T 2N2. chipper@ms.umanitoba.ca
Newall
Nancy E
NE
Chuchmach
Loring P
LP
Swift
Audrey U
AU
Haynes
Tara L
TL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D009043:Motor Activity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment