Beneficial and Impeding Factors for the Implementation of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Interventions-A Gender-Specific Focus Group Study

Felix G Wittmann; Andrea Zülke; Adrian Schultz; Mandy Claus; Susanne Röhr; Melanie Luppa; Steffi G Riedel-Heller

doi:10.3390/ijerph20043520

Beneficial and Impeding Factors for the Implementation of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Interventions-A Gender-Specific Focus Group Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 16;20(4):3520. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043520.

Authors

Felix G Wittmann¹, Andrea Zülke¹, Adrian Schultz¹, Mandy Claus¹, Susanne Röhr^{1

2}, Melanie Luppa¹, Steffi G Riedel-Heller¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
² Health and Ageing Research Team (HART), School of Psychology, Manawatū Campus, Massey University, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand.

Abstract

(1) Background: The prevalence of dementia increases and so does the number of interventions that address modifiable risk factors for dementia. Recent evidence suggests that there are gender differences in the prevalence of those lifestyle factors as well as in the effectiveness of interventions. This study aims to identify differences in factors that benefit or hinder the effectiveness of interventions since a target group's perspective gets more relevant. (2) Methods: Two focus groups, a female (n = 11) and a male (n = 8) group, were interviewed, audio recorded and transcribed. Qualitative analyses were performed and main- and subcategories were identified. (3) Results: Main differences were observed including aspects of lifestyle changes (e.g., respective diet and importance of an active lifestyle) and gender-typical behavior and perception by relevant healthcare actors. (4) Conclusions: Identified differences might help to address and raise the efficiency of lifestyle interventions. Further, the importance of social aspects and retirement as an auspicious moment to start interventions were identified as relevant by study participants.

Keywords: dementia; gender-specific perspectives; intervention; lifestyle change; older people; prevention.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Dementia*
Diet
Female
Focus Groups
Humans
Life Style*
Male
Risk Factors

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) with a grant awarded to S.R.-H. and S.R. (grant number: ZMVI1-2520FSB510). S.R. is an atlantic fellow for equity in brain health and is supported by the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, analyses or interpretation of the data or in the decision to publish or in preparing the manuscript.