Health Perceptions As Predictors of Exercise Adherence in Older Women

Purpose : To determine if health perceptions, measured by SF-36 subscales, could identify women more likely to adhere to exercise, particularly during exercise adoption and maintenance phases. Design and Methods: Subjects (Age = 67 ± 5 yr, BMI = 24.4 ± 3 kg/m2) were 189 estrogen-taking, postmenopausal women in a 2-year home-based resistance-training program. Results : Vitality, role-emotional, bodily pain, social functioning, and mental health subscales of the SF-36 were significantly (p<.05) predictive of exercise adoption. Vitality, role-emotional, general health, and bodily pain subscales were significantly (p<.05) predictive of exercise maintenance. Implications: Women who perceived themselves as having more energy, fewer emotional problems, less pain, fewer social problems, less feelings of nervousness and depression were more likely to start exercising. Women who perceived themselves as having more energy, fewer emotional problems, excellent health, less pain were more likely to continue exercising. Additionally, the present study indicated that different components of the SF-36 affected different behavior phases of adherence during the exercise program.

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