title: Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Brazil, older adults frequently participate in community groups. However, the influence of this participation on physical activity levels has not been fully investigated. It is known that both regular physical activity and social support are beneficial for health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between participation in community groups and physical activity among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 1062 adults with a mean age of 71.9 (±7.6) years. Among these individuals, 293 subjects participated in community groups and 769 did not. A questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used for the assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of active older adults was 66.6% among participants in community groups and 58.4% among non-participants. Participation in these groups was significantly associated with being more physically active in the transportation and domestic domains, but with being less physically active in the leisure-time domain. Some changes in these associations were observed when the sample was stratified by age, gender, body mass index, and health status. With respect to total physical activity, participation in community groups was associated with being more physically active in only two strata (subjects younger than 70 years and women).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that older adults who participate in community groups are characterized by a greater probability of being more physically active. However, longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether participation in community groups facilitates the adoption of physically active behavior.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde e do Esporte, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovana Zarpellon
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Mazo
authors.forename: Tânia Bertoldo
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: Cinara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacomori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D019058:Community Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D058992:Social Participation
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