Applying an Ecological Perspective to Physical Activity Participation in Older Adults

Abstract

Remaining physically active as we age contributes not only to sustained independence but to decreased risk for many chronic diseases. Several fields of study have looked into factors that promote, or present barriers to, physical activity in older adults. Some of these factors include environment, health literacy, and self-efficacy, along with their intersections with race and socioeconomic status. Life experience, life course, and intrinsic body confidence have been mentioned in the scientific literature as factors that have gone under explored. This presentation presents a discussion of current observations in the literature regarding the impacts of these under explored variables, their intersections with well-examined variables, and avenues for future study.