Factors influencing physical activity: A cross-sectional study of the community-dwelling older adults in a Portuguese rural area

Abstract

Background: There are a variety of intrinsic determinants which are key to understand the reasons for older people to stay (or not) active.

Objectives: To identify and analyse the factors underlying the physical activity engagement in older Portuguese living in a rural area.

Methods: A total of 504 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥65 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic data, physical activity levels, physical fitness and body composition were analysed.

Results: Gender, age, income level, lower body strength, overweight, muscle mass and sedentarism (sitting time) were significantly associated with different physical activity levels. The multinomial logistic regression pointed out that dynamic balance, BMI and sitting time for moderate levels, as well as muscle mass for high levels, were the main independent factors that seem to influence the engagement in these levels compared to low physical activity levels. Additionally, classification tree analysis confirmed sitting time, dynamic balance and gender as discriminating factors for physical activity levels.

Conclusion: Physical fitness-related variables seem to mainly determine the levels of physical activity in the studied population. Thus, nursing care must promote the integration of physical activity into daily life routines of community-dwelling older adults, especially in rural areas.

Implications for practice: The diverse nature of factors influencing physical activity must be taken into account in primary health care, particularly in rural areas. Nursing care for older people must promote the integration of physical activity into daily life routines of community-dwelling older adults.

Keywords: body composition; exercise; older people; physical fitness; rural community.