Correlates of physical activity in a sample of older adults with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE - Physical activity is integral to the management of type 2 diabe tes. Unfortunately, the majority of adults with type 2 diabetes do not regu larly engage in physical activity: The purpose of this study was to assess physical activity behavior and its correlates (i.e., physical activity know ledge, barriers, and performance and outcome expectations) in older adults with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A subgroup of 260 adults with type 2 diabetes was identified from a larger stratified random sample of adults aged great er than or equal to 55 years. Participants completed an interviewer-adminis tered survey designed from focus group findings and social learning theory. RESULTS - The majority of the respondents (54.6%) reported 0 min of weekly physical activity. This was especially true of older female respondents. Pe rformance expectation scores were lower among respondents who were in the o ldest age-group, namely white women. Physical activity knowledge varied by age-group, and barriers to physical activity were prevalent in all groups. The following are significant correlates of reported weekly physical activi ty: younger age, more education, fewer motivational barriers, and greater p erceived health and performance expectations. CONCLUSIONS - Given the importance of physical activity to diabetes managem ent, the low prevalence of physical activity found in this and other studie s should raise concerns among clinicians. Future research to identify predi ctors of physical activity is needed to guide clinicians in the promotion o f physical activity.