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Original Article

Sources of Efficacy for Walking and Climbing Stairs Among Older Adults

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Pages 51-68 | Received 21 Aug 2002, Accepted 30 Nov 2002, Published online: 28 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Among elderly people, “getting around” in the community is seen as important to maintaining autonomy and independence. Social Cognitive Theory posits that self-efficacy is a key element of physical activity behavior, yet little is known about the origins of self-confidence for community mobility. The purpose of this study was to identify the main contextual elements (sociodemographic variables) and cognitive elements (belief variables) that contribute to self-efficacy to walk blocks and climb flights of stairs among older adults (dependent variables). In total, 447 adults over age 50 were surveyed on: (i) social and contextual characteristics such as age, gender, health, education, birthplace and lifelong physical activity; (ii) self-referent beliefs about exercise confidence, social support, value motives, perceived exertion, perceived enjoyment and beliefs about benefits and risks in six types of physical activities. Linear regression showed that both social context and self-referent belief variables were significant predictors of efficacy for walking blocks and/or climbing stairs. Social context variables that significantly undermined confidence for community mobility were being: older, female, born in North America, and feeling less healthy. Elders' beliefs about vigorous types of physical activities (i.e., uncertainty about benefits, anticipating high exertion, and non-enjoyment) also affected their confidence in community mobility.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maria Tan

Jennifer R. Johnson was a graduate student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX at the time of this study. She is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, LA

Debra Stewart is Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University and staff therapist at Erinoak Centre, Missis-sauga, Ontario. She is currently completing a MSc (Design, Measurement and Evaluation) at McMaster University.

Ronald L. Mace (deceased, June 29, 1998) was also affiliated with The Center for Universal Design, School of Design, North Carolina University.

Lois Rosage and Geraldine Shaw are Occupational Therapist Consultants who provide evaluations for the housing programs at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.

Debbie Rand is Occupational Therapist, Beit Rivka Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel. She completed this study in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her mailing address is 50 Heh B'Eyar Street, Apartment 5, Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel, 48056.

Maureen McKenna is a Licensed Physical Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Her Current position is: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003.

Heather Lambert was funded in part by a Health Canada NHRDP Fellowship, a REPAR Fellowship, a doctoral bursary from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Quebec, and a Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation-Royal Canadian Legion Fellowship in Gerontology.

Trish Wielandt was supported by a University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UQPRS).

Dr. Leigh Tooth was supported by a NHMRC Fellowship (#997032) while some of this research was undertaken.

J. D. “Herb” Herbert is Occupational Therapist, Rocky Mountain Menders LLC, 363 Pioneer Road, Lyons, CO 80540. At the time of this study, he was a graduate student, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

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