title: Health Risk Perceptions and Exercise in Older Adulthood: An Application of Protection Motivation Theory.
abstract: Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was applied to explore the relationship between perceived risk of acute health crises and intent to exercise. Interviews of 351 community-living older adults assessed prior physical activity (PPA), all PMT components, and exercise intent. A multi-group structural equation model revealed gender differences in PMT predictors of exercise intent. PPA, age, self-efficacy, and response efficacy directly predicted men's intent. Women's PPA and age predicted PMT components of self-efficacy and response costs, which predicted intent. Findings have implications for devising interventions to enhance physical activity in later life by targeting different PMT components for older men and women.
authors.affiliation: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA joelle.ruthig@und.edu.
authors.forename: Joelle C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruthig
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D011582:Psychological Theory; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: exercise; health perceptions; older adults