Physical activity interventions are most effective when they are tailored t
o individual preferences. This study examined preferences for exercising on
one's own with some instruction vs. in a class in 1,820 middle-aged and 1,
485 older adults. Overall, 69% of middle-aged and 67% of older adults prefe
rred to exercise on their own with some instruction rather than in an exerc
ise class. The study identified subgroups-5 of middle-aged and 6 of older a
dults-whose preferences for exercising on their own with some instruction r
anged from 33-85%. Less educated women younger than 56, healthy women 65-71
, and older men reporting higher stress levels were most likely to prefer c
lasses. All other men and most women preferred exercising on their own. The
identification of these subgroups enables us to tailor exercise recommenda
tions to the preferences of middle-aged and older adults, with increased ra
tes of physical activity adoption and maintenance a likely result.