Physical activity as a health resource: a cross-sectional survey applying a salutogenic approach to what older adults consider meaningful in organised physical activity initiatives

Figures & data

Table 1. The seven health resources as they are formulated in SPAHRQ.

Health resources	Characteristics	SPAHRQ ‘Which factors in the physical activity you are engaged in make it meaningful?’
Social relations	Enjoying togetherness, having meetings, and people caring	The social aspects, meeting others
Positive energy	Functioning as a ‘recharge’ and providing strength all day	It gives me new energy and a better mood
Self-worth	Having confidence and faith in yourself	It gives me confidence
Capability in and about physical activity	Awareness and know-how regarding exercise. Feeling comfortable	I learn about physical activity and the body
The habit of exercising	Regular routines, generating structure and meaning in life	It is a good habit for me to be physically active
Identity as an exercising person	Being proud of doing exercise, being validated by others	Physical activity gives me an identity as an exercising person
Embodied satisfaction	View of oneself, physical fitness, liking one’s own body	I feel satisfied with my body if I keep up my physical activity

Note: The questions presented here were to be answered in the form of ‘tic in the box’ if you agree.

Table 2. Demographic variables tested in the study, n = 372.

Demographics	Proportion
Age 60–69 years	20%
Age 70–79 years	60%
Age 80–96 years	20%
Men	40%
Women	60%
Born in Sweden	95%
Education – Primary school	33%
Education – Secondary school	27%
High school or University	40%
Physical activity >150 min/week	93%
House or self-owned apartment	76%
Rent apartment	24%
Living in a city	54%
Living in a smaller town	31%
Living in the countryside	14%

Figure 1. Proportion for each health resource (n = 372).

Table 3. Multiple logistic regression with the different health resources as outcome variables (dependent variables) adjusted for age, gender, education and physical activity (explanatory or independent variables) (n = 342).

	Age (cont)	Gender (Reference: Women)	Education (Reference: Primary school)		Physical activity (cont)
		Men	Sec school	University
Health resources	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)
Social relations	0.94 (0.94–1.05)	1.08 (0.53–2.22)	0.85 (0.33–2.14)	0.70 (0.30–1.60)	1.42 (1.09–1.85)
Positive energy	0.98 (0.94–1.03)	0.42 (0.23–0.76)	1.15 (0.56–2.36)	1.62 (0.80–3.33)	1.21 (0.98–1.48)
Self-worth	0.98 (0.95–1.01)	1.14 (0.70–1.84)	0.72 (0.34–1.36)	1.24 (0.71–2.15)	1.24 (1.06–1.44)
Capability in and about physical activity	1.03 (0.99–1.07)	0.69 (0.44–1.09)	0.87 (0.49–1.55)	1.16 (0.69–1.95)	1.07 (0.93–1.23)
The habit of exercising	0.99 (0.96–1.04)	1.06 (0.63–1.79)	1.83 (0.98–3.42)	2.75 (1.51–5.02)	1.28 (1.07–1.54)
Identity as an exercising person	1.01 (0.97–1.05)	0.98 (0.58–1.69)	1.79 (0.91–3.51)	1.05 (0.54–2.02)	1.15 (0.97–1.36)
Embodied satisfaction	0.97 (0.93–1.02)	1.35 (0.74–2.46)	0.74 (0.35–1.57)	0.71 (0.36–1.41)	1.31 (1.06–1.61)

Note: p < .05, written in bold. Nagelkerke R-square range between 0.029 and 0.096 for all health resources.

Table 4. Multiple logistic regression with the different health resources as outcome variables (dependent variables) adjusted for age, gender, education, physical activity and SOC (explanatory or independent variables) (n = 342).

	Age (cont)	Gender (Reference: Women)	Education (Reference: Primary school)		Physical activity (cont)	SOC (cont)
		Men	Sec school	University
Health resources	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)
Social relations	0.99 (0.94–1.05)	1.03 (0.50–2.15)	0.85 (0.33–2.21)	0.75 (0.32–1.77)	1.60 (1.20–2.13)	1.01 (0.97–1.04)
Positive energy	0.98 (0.93–1.02)	0.41 (0.22–0.75)	1.01 (0.48–2.14)	1.60 (0.76–3.33)	1.20 (0.96–1.49)	1.02 (0.99–1.05)
Self-worth	0.98 (0.95–1.01)	1.24 (0.75–2.03)	0.64 (0.33–1.26)	1.22 (0.69–2.17)	1.24 (1.05–1.46)	1.02 (0.99–1.04)
Capability in and about physical activity	1.02 (0.99–1.06)	0.69 (0.43–1.10)	0.84 (0.46–1.55)	1.28 (0.75–2.18)	1.10 (0.94–1.28)	0.98 (0.96–1.00)
The habit of exercising	0.99 (0.96–1.04)	1.08 (0.62–1.88)	1.67 (0.86–3.24)	2.50 (1.33–4.70)	1.22 (1.00–1.49)	1.04 (1.02–1.07)
Identity as an exercising person	1.00 (0.97–1.04)	1.03 (0.59–1.78)	1.69 (0.83–3.43)	1.09 (0.55–2.14)	1.12 (0.93–1.34)	1.02 (0.99–1.04)
Embodied satisfaction	0.96 (0.92–1.01)	1.31 (0.71–2.41)	0.67 (0.30–1.48)	0.66 (0.32–1.37)	1.35 (1.08–1.68)	0.98 (0.95–1.01)

Note: p < .05, written in bold. Nagelkerke R-square range between 0.030 and 0.133 for all health resources.