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Assessment Tools, Interventions, and Biopsychosocial Factors Associated With Physical Activity in Older Adults: A
Alberto Gómez-Moreno1,2, Marina García-Gámez1,3, Rocío Badía-Guillén2
1Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Malaga, Spain.
Introduction:
The global aging of the population highlights the urgent need to monitor and promote physical activity (PA) among older adults. A multidimensional understanding, encompassing assessment, promotion, and biopsychosocial factors associated with PA, is essential for healthy aging.
Objectives:
To map and synthesize the available evidence on PA assessment instruments, intervention strategies, and biopsychosocial factors associated with PA in adults aged 60 years and over.
Methodology:
A scoping review was conducted following the JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search included validated and nonvalidated questionnaires, PA promotion interventions, and biopsychosocial factors associated with PA (clinical, psychological, and social domains) in studies published between 2019 and 2026 across community, clinical, and residential settings.
Results:
A total of 51 studies were included, showing substantial heterogeneity in sample size, objectives, clinical status, and settings. Twenty different instruments were identified (e.g., PASE, IPAQ, CHAMPS, and VREM), most of them validated. The majority of studies involved populations aged ≥ 65 years and were conducted in the United States, Canada, Australia, and China. Among the biopsychosocial factors associated with PA, frailty (6.45%), cognitive decline (6.45%), and chronic conditions (6.45%) were prominent. Lifestyle-related factors such as sedentary behavior (11.8%), nutrition (5.37%), and participation in PA programs (16.13%) were also frequent. Outcomes included activities of daily living (9%), quality of life (8.6%), and levels of dependency (6.45%). Intervention-based studies were less frequently identified compared to observational and methodological studies.
Conclusion:
This review highlights the importance of promoting PA to improve functional capacity and quality of life in older adults. Although a wide range of validated tools is available, their application varies depending on context. The limited presence of intervention studies indicates a need for further research focused on structured, multicomponent programs tailored to individual needs within a biopsychosocial framework.
