Enjoyable group-based physical activity programmes for older adults

Abstract

Purpose: Enjoyment of physical activity is an important concept to understand as it is an important contributor to ongoing engagement in older adults, through adherence to group-based exercise programmes for older adults. The aims of this thesis are to explore what makes group-based physical activity programmes enjoyable for older adults, as a first step to developing enjoyable exercise programmes for older adults.

Methods: A systematic review of physical activity interventions for older adults that targeted enjoyment revealed a lack of explicit design for enjoyment, with wide heterogeneity in activities and measurement of enjoyment. Therefore, three qualitative studies sought to address this gap with a social constructivist approach to understand enjoyment from the perspective of exercise instructors (n = 9) who deliver programmes, and a range of experiences from older adults (≥ 60 years) who attend (new attendees, n =10; regular attendees, n = 25) such programmes. Qualitative data (semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions) were collected and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: This study found that the dual instructor-led and user-led roles within the group reflect the stage of group dynamics. The role of the instructor is important in the initial stages of group dynamics, to reduce negative affect when exercising, so that older adults can experience enjoyment in exercise-related interactions. Enjoyment in the non-exercise related interactions continues to be experienced to a greater extent with regularity of attending.

Conclusions: The role of other older adults for accountability and friendship becomes an important source of enjoyment, so that older adults can be and do what th ey value in life. Therefore, the social aspect to group-based exercise programmes for older adults isrecommended to be emphasised for older adults’ enjoyment. These findings are of interest to practitioners in how they can promote, facilitate, and sustain enjoyable group-based exercise programmes for older adults.

Date of Award	Mar 2024
Original language	English
Sponsors	Department for the Economy
Supervisor	Kyle Paradis (Supervisor), Nicole Blackburn (Supervisor) & Mark Tully (Supervisor)