Factors Associated with Physical Activity in Jordanian Older People

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore factors associated with Physical Activity (PA) in Jordanian older people. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure PA in 120 adults aged ≥ 60 years. Physical and psychosocial factors related to PA were measured including gait and balance, cognition, health-related quality of life, self-reported health, fear of falling and sociodemographic factors. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that longer sedentary time (Beta = −0.23, p = .009) and female gender (Beta = −0.36, p < .001) predicted lower PA. Use of walking aids (Beta = 0.21, p = .02) and poorer perceived general health (Beta = −0.25, p = .01) predicted longer sedentary time. Only small variance (adjusted R² = 0.25 for PA and 0.22 for sedentary time, p < .001) was explained by the variables. Larger scale studies should explore cultural and environmental factors that could explain PA in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Older people
• Jordan
• physical activity
• sedentary behavior

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the role of Yasmin Abu-Hanood, the research assistant who contributed to the data collection and data entry process.

Declaration of contribution of authors

All authors contributed to the development of the study, analysis of the data and preparation of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Deanship of Academic Research at The University of Jordan (grant number Deanship of Academic Research, The University of Jordan 1517).