An age-tailored intervention sustains physical activity changes in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

A randomized controlled trial compared an age-tailored intervention to increase physical activity levels in older adults to an age-neutral intervention.

Both interventions communicated activity planning strategies and messages to improve self-efficacy. On top of this, the age-tailored intervention also included two lifespan components that targeted present orientation and emotional focus, and fostered strategies of selection, optimization, and compensation.

A total of 386 German older adults (aged 60-95 years) were randomized to receive either the age-tailored intervention (age-specific strategy training and short-term emotional focus) or the age-neutral intervention. Physical activity was measured by questionnaires at baseline (T1) and at 6-month (T2) and 12-month follow-ups (T3). Latent true change modeling was applied by creating latent change scores (T2 - T1 and T3 - T2).

After controlling for gender, age, and physical and mental health, allocation to the age-tailored intervention predicted a latent physical activity difference at T3 - T2, but not at T2 - T1.

Compared to the age-neutral intervention, the age-tailored intervention led to superior maintenance of physical activity within these older adults.