Implementation intentions for physical activity behavior in older adult women: an examination of executive function as a moderator of treatment effects.
BACKGROUND
Implementation intentions are effective for enhancing physical activity, but it is unknown how well these effects extend to older adults and/or are modified by cognitive variables.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective is to examine (1) the efficacy of an implementation intentions intervention for physical activity in older adult women and (2) to examine the moderating effects of executive function.


METHODS
Participants (N = 75, M age = 73.72) completed measures of executive function and were randomly assigned to weekly implementation intentions for physical activity (experimental condition), implementation intentions for an unrelated behavior (control condition), or no treatment. Baseline activity was measured by accelerometer and self-report; follow-up activity was measured by weekly self-report.


RESULTS
Findings indicated a significant treatment effect for the experimental condition and a treatment by executive function interaction. Specifically, participants with relatively stronger executive function benefited most from the experimental intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation intentions are effective for enhancing physical activity among older adult women, and the effects may be especially pronounced for those with relatively stronger executive function.
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada, pahall@uwaterloo.ca.
Peter A
PA
Hall
Christopher
C
Zehr
Jeffrey
J
Paulitzki
Ryan
R
Rhodes
D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015397:Program Evaluation; D057566:Self Report