Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: In Brazil, older adults frequently participate in community groups. However, the influence of this participation on physical activity levels has not been fully investigated. It is known that both regular physical activity and social support are beneficial for health. The aim of this study...

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Main Authors: Giovana Zarpellon Mazo, Tânia Bertoldo Benedetti, Cinara Sacomori
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Faculdade de Medicina / USP 2011-01-01
Series:Clinics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322011001100003
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spelling doaj-f76f30e1194e40f3984a89db497101302020-11-24T21:47:42ZengFaculdade de Medicina / USPClinics1807-59321980-53222011-01-0166111861186610.1590/S1807-59322011001100003Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, BrazilGiovana Zarpellon MazoTânia Bertoldo BenedettiCinara SacomoriOBJECTIVE: In Brazil, older adults frequently participate in community groups. However, the influence of this participation on physical activity levels has not been fully investigated. It is known that both regular physical activity and social support are beneficial for health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between participation in community groups and physical activity among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1062 adults with a mean age of 71.9 (±7.6) years. Among these individuals, 293 subjects participated in community groups and 769 did not. A questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used for the assessment. RESULTS: The prevalence of active older adults was 66.6% among participants in community groups and 58.4% among non-participants. Participation in these groups was significantly associated with being more physically active in the transportation and domestic domains, but with being less physically active in the leisure-time domain. Some changes in these associations were observed when the sample was stratified by age, gender, body mass index, and health status. With respect to total physical activity, participation in community groups was associated with being more physically active in only two strata (subjects younger than 70 years and women). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that older adults who participate in community groups are characterized by a greater probability of being more physically active. However, longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether participation in community groups facilitates the adoption of physically active behavior.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322011001100003Physical ActivityCommunity GroupsOlder AdultsHealthSocial Support
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Giovana Zarpellon Mazo
Tânia Bertoldo Benedetti
Cinara Sacomori
spellingShingle Giovana Zarpellon Mazo
Tânia Bertoldo Benedetti
Cinara Sacomori
Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil
Clinics
Physical Activity
Community Groups
Older Adults
Health
Social Support
author_facet Giovana Zarpellon Mazo
Tânia Bertoldo Benedetti
Cinara Sacomori
author_sort Giovana Zarpellon Mazo
title Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil
title_short Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil
title_full Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil
title_fullStr Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil
title_sort association between participation in community groups and being more physically active among older adults from florianópolis, brazil
publisher Faculdade de Medicina / USP
series Clinics
issn 1807-5932
1980-5322
publishDate 2011-01-01
description OBJECTIVE: In Brazil, older adults frequently participate in community groups. However, the influence of this participation on physical activity levels has not been fully investigated. It is known that both regular physical activity and social support are beneficial for health. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between participation in community groups and physical activity among older adults from Florianópolis, Brazil. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1062 adults with a mean age of 71.9 (±7.6) years. Among these individuals, 293 subjects participated in community groups and 769 did not. A questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used for the assessment. RESULTS: The prevalence of active older adults was 66.6% among participants in community groups and 58.4% among non-participants. Participation in these groups was significantly associated with being more physically active in the transportation and domestic domains, but with being less physically active in the leisure-time domain. Some changes in these associations were observed when the sample was stratified by age, gender, body mass index, and health status. With respect to total physical activity, participation in community groups was associated with being more physically active in only two strata (subjects younger than 70 years and women). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that older adults who participate in community groups are characterized by a greater probability of being more physically active. However, longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether participation in community groups facilitates the adoption of physically active behavior.
topic Physical Activity
Community Groups
Older Adults
Health
Social Support
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322011001100003
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