Exploring the Enjoyment of the Intergenerational Physical Activity

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Sedentary behavior in the elderly is a significant public health concern.
• Intergenerational programs offer a novel approach to promote physical activity in older adults.
• Understanding enjoyment is crucial for the success and adherence to physical activity interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a foundation for developing intergenerational physical activity programs.
• To assess the enjoyment levels of elderly individuals towards physical activity and a hypothetical intergenerational program.
• To identify factors influencing participation and enjoyment in such programs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 140 elderly participants (mean age 67.8 years).
• Utilized the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) for sedentariness assessment.
• Employed the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES-Q and PACES-INT) to measure activity enjoyment.
• Subgroup analyses were conducted based on demographics and lifestyle factors.
• Four multiple-choice questions gathered data for program organization guidelines.

Main Results:

• Only 44.3% found their usual physical activity enjoyable, contrasting with 81.5% who anticipated enjoying an intergenerational program.
• Significant differences in anticipated enjoyment (PACES-INT) were found for gender (p=0.009), residential location (p<0.001), and employment status (p=0.004).
• Approximately 80% of participants expressed willingness to join intergenerational programs, even with potential barriers like fatigue or logistical issues.

Conclusions:

• Intergenerational physical activity programs demonstrate high potential for enjoyment and adherence among the elderly population.
• Program design should consider gender, location, and employment status to maximize engagement.
• These findings support the development of targeted intergenerational initiatives to reduce elderly sedentary behavior.