F. Gravelle et al., ATTITUDE AND ENDURING INVOLVEMENT OF OLDER ADULTS IN STRUCTURED PROGRAMS OF PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, Perceptual and motor skills, 85(1), 1997, pp. 67-71
The purpose of this paper is to measure the influence of the affective
attitudinal domain upon the intentions of a group of older adults par
ticipating in structured programs of physical activity offered in a co
mmunity recreation setting. The subjects were 118 seniors participatin
g in either a fitness, aqua-fitness, or golf program in metropolitan O
ttawa. The group comprised of 65 women and 53 men were, in the most pa
rt, between 55 and 70 years of age. A questionnaire measuring attitude
towards physical activity was developed. A stepwise regression analys
is of intention to participate on attitudes showed that most of the va
riance in intention (69.0%) was explained by the variable ''good/benef
icial,'' i.e., seniors perceived the programs as being good and benefi
cial to them. It is recommended that further investigation of affectiv
e factors related to attitude be carried out to develop strategies to
maintain seniors' involvement in physical activity programs.