Fitness and Health Evaluations by Older ExercisersAuthor(s): M.J. STONES, ALBERT KOZMA and LEE STONESSource: Canadian Journal of Public Health / Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, Vol. 78, No.1 (January/February 1987), pp. 18-20Published by: Canadian Public Health AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41989305 .

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Fitness and Health Evaluations

by Older Exercisers'

M.J. STONES, Ph D., ALBERT KOZMA, Ph.D., LEE STONES2

Previous reported studies

on objective of older exercisers

measures and of physical

nonexercisers and reported on objective measures of physical and

psychological characteristics, longitudinal changes, and smoking habits.1-2'3 This article presents findings from a telephone survey on perceived fitness and health changes after one to seven years of participation in an exercise program.

Perceived health and perceived fitness both contribute to perceived physical wellbeing (PPW), where the latter has been identified as a dimension in factor analytic research with older adults.7 PPW is important because it represents the juncture between mental and somatic influences on health: Stones and Kozma5 found that mental health traits affect perceived physical health; other research shows that somatic symptoms and related variables (e.g. medication usage) relate to perceived health and general wellbeing.4»6'7 These relationships are depicted in Figure 1, where the arrows indicate the direction of causal linkages.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

The 101 participants were sampled randomly from the membership list of the 3 F program (Fitness with Fun and

1. Supported by a grant from NSERC. 2. Gerontology Centre and Department of Psychology, Memorial University of

Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X9

Fellowship ), which is described elsewhere.3 All those contacted cooperated with the telephone survey. The sample contained 30 males and 71 females of median age 63 years (semi-interquartile range = 5 years). These distribu- tions closely approximate those of the full memberhsip. At the time of the survey (July/ August 1985), 73 from the sample were active in 3 F and planned to continue membership, 17 were inactive (mainly because of vacation) but planned to rejoin at the next session, and 11 had dropped out of the program that year and did not plan to rejoin. The questions in Table I were presented in a standardized manner using a multiple choice response format.

The data were analyzed with respect to frequency and structural relationships among the responses. The frequency data will be presented first. (Note that absolute and percentage frequency are virtually identical with 101 participants).

1) Frequency Data Introduction to 3F. 70 persons were introduced by a

friend or relative; the remainder heard about the program from other sources.

Reason for joining. The primary reason given was exercise by 67 persons, social contact by 1 8, weight loss by 5, and health reasons by 1 1.

18 Canadian Journal of Public Health Vol. 78, January/February 1987

Setf-evaluations of fitness and health were obtained from a telephone survey of 101 older participants in an exercise program . Most participants reported gains in fitness and health since joining . These gains, together with a reduction in visits to the family doctor, were more pronounced in longtime members than in newer enrollees . The findings indicate that participation in a formal exercise program contributes toward perception of improved physical wellbeing .

Par le biais d'une enquête téléphonique, nous avons pu obtenir l'auto-évaluation du niveau de santé et de la condition physique de 101 personnes participant à un programme d'exercice . La plupart d'entre elles ont signalé une amélioration de leur niveau de santé et de leur condition physique du fait de leur participation . Ces gains, accompagnés de visites plus espacées au médecin de famille, sont plus marqués chez les personnes inscrites depuis longtemps au programme . Les résultats indiquent que la participation à un programme d'exercice formel permet aux gens de ressentir un plus grand bien-être physique .

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Figure 1. A Model of Influences on Perceived Physical Wellbeing (PPW)

SOMATIC VARIABLES > PPW < MENTAL HEALTH TRAITS

Duration of membership. 29 persons had been members for 2 yrs. or less, 33 were members of 3-4 yrs. standing, and 39 had joined 5-7 yrs. previously.

Level of exercise . The 3 F program offers five exercise options. 10 persons were in the special needs subgroup of 3F members for whom gentle exercise was recommended on medical grounds. 31 persons undertook shallow water exercise intended for members with joint or weight problems. The other options are land-based and graded in terms of strenuousness. The numbers exercising at the least to most strenuous levels were 6, 24, and 30 respectively.

Additional Exercise. 74 persons engaged in exercise additional to the regular 3F classes. 27 (36% of the 74) walked regularly, 9 (12%) were swimmers, 8(11%) regularly attended dance classes, 3 (4%) engaged in calisthenics, 1 (1%) used an exercise bike, and 26 (35%) engaged a combination of the above or other forms of exercise. The frequency of additional exercise was once weekly for 11 people (15% of the 74), two or three times per week for 34 (46%), and four or more times for 29 (39%). The duration per bout of additional exercise was less than 15 mins. for 10 people (14% of the 74), 15-30 mins. for 34 (46%), 30-60 mins. for 15 (20%), and longer than one hour for 15 people (20%).

Table I Items and Response Alternatives on the Questionnaire 1) Status of membership in the program (currently active, currently

inactive but plan to rejoin, drop-out). 2 Years of membership. 3 Introduction to program (neighbour, friend/ relative, other). 4) Main reason for joining (health, exercise, social contact, weight

reduction). 5) Attitude to exercise at the program (enjoyable, not enjoyable). 6) Exercise subgroup membership (special needs, shallow-water fitness,

land based 1, 2, or 3). 7) Exercise additional to program (yes, no). 8) Type of additional exercise (walking, calisthenics, cycling or

exercycling, swimming, weight training, dance classes or aerobics, other).

9) Frequency of additional exercise (once weekly, 2 or 3 times per week, more than 3 times per week).

10) Mean duration per bout of additional exercise (less than 15 mins., 16- 30 mins., 31-60 mins., 61 mins. or more).

1 1) Daily cigarette smoker (yes, no). 12) Perceived fitness change since joining program (not much change,

slight improvement, much improvement). 13) Perceived health change since joining program (negative change or no

improvement, slight improvement, much improvement). 14) Perceived change in visits to physician since joining program (fewer

visits, no change, more visits). 15) Perceived change in medication use since joining program (lesser use,

no change, greater use).

Smoking. The number of daily cigarette smokers was 23. Attitude towards exercise. 93 persons thought exercise at

3 F was enjoyable and 8 did not enjoy the program. Perceived fitness. 14 persons reported little or no gain in

fitness through 3F participation, 55 reported slight gain, and 32 perceived they had gained a lot.

Perceived health. 19 persons reported little or no improvement in health in consequence of 3 F participation, 53 reported slight improvement, and 29 perceived a great improvement.

Visits to doctor. 26 persons reported a reduction in consultations with their doctor after joining 3F, 73 reported no change, and 2 reported an increase.

Medication use. 92 persons reported no change in medication use after joining 3F, and 9 reported a reduction. Nobody reported an increase.

2) Structrual Findings Structrual relationships among the items were appraised

by principal components analysis. 5 factors with Eigenvalues greater than 1.0 were extracted that accounted for 61.4% of total variance. Items with high loadings (0.4 and greater) on Varimax rotated structure are presented in Table II. The factors are interpreted as follows.

Factor 1. Longtime members of 3F reported the greater gains in fitness and health since joining, and consulted with

Table II Items Loading at 0.4 or Greater with Varimax Rotated

Structure Item Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 5 Dropout from 3F .81 Inactive status in 3F .85 Years a member of .40 -.46 3F Age .76 Gender (female) .63 Level of exercise .51 Additional exercise .83

1) Frequency 2) Duration .88

Not enjoy 3F .45 exercise Nonsmoker .70 Perceived fitness .83 gain Perceived health .89 gain More visits to -.45 -.67 doctor Less medication use .74

January/February 1987 19

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their doctor less frequently. Newer members tended to report neither gains in fitness and health nor reduced medical consultations.

Factor 2. Dropouts generally were inactive, recent registrants who did not enjoy exercise. Those currently active planned to register for the upcoming session, enjoyed exercise, and more frequently were longtime members.

Factor 3. Those exercising at the more strenuous levels in 3 F classes undertook additional exercise more frequently and for longer durations. People performing little additional exercise were more often in the less strenuous 3 F classes.

Factor 4. Females were more likely than males to have reduced the frequency of medical consultations and medication use since joining 3F.

Factor 5. Older participants were more likely to be nonsmokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost all participants enjoyed exercise at 3 F and enjoyment was related to continuity of membership, both previous and intended. Most participants perceived gains in fitness and health since joining 3F; these effects, together with a reduction in reported medical consultations, were more characteristic of longtime members. Specific indices of

health improvement (i.e., fewer visits to the doctor and decreased medication use) were reported less often than generalized perceived gain, and more by females than males. Most participants engaged in exercise additional to the 3 F classes; however, the classes tended to be the only form of exercise for those in the less strenuous 3F options. These findings suggest that formal exercise among older adults contributes to perceptions of improved health and fitness levels.

REFERENCES 1. Stacey C, Kozma A, Stones M J. Simple cognitive and behavioral

changes resulting from improved physical fitness in persons over 50 vears of age Can J Aging 1986; 4: 67-73.

2. Stones MJ, Kozma A, McNeil K, Stones L. Smoking behavior and participation in organized exercise Can J Public Health , 1986; 77: 153-4.

3. Stones MJ, Kozma A, Stones L. Preliminary findings on the effects of exercise program participation in older adults Can J Public Health , 1985; 76:272-3.

4. McNeil JK, Stones MJ, Kozma A. Longitudinal changes in domain indicators of happiness Soc Ind Res 1986; 18: 1 19-124.

5. Stones MJ, Kozma A. "Happy are they who are happy . . .": A test of two causal models of relationships between happiness and its correlates Exp Aging Res 1986; 12: 23-38.

6. McNeil JK, Stones MJ, Kozma A. Subjective well-being in later life: Issues concerning measurement and prediction Soc Ind Res 1986; 18: 35-70.

7. Reker GT, Wong PTP. Psychological and physical well-being in the elderly: The Perceived Well-Being Scale (PWB) Can J Aging 1984; 3: 23-32.

Received: October 9, 1984 Accepted: February 28, 1986

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