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SELF-REGULATION AS A PREDICTOR OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OLDER ADULTS

Publication at First Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport |
2016

Abstract

Research studies show that self-regulation represents an important predictor of physical activity (PA) in older adults. However, only limited research attention has focused on the role of selfregulation strategies as enablers of PA in Czech older population.

In the present paper, we explore the self-reported use of PA-related self-regulation strategies in a sample of 686 Czech older adults and the relation of the self-regulation strategies to participation in self-reported everyday PA. The respondents (average age 68 years, 80 % women) completed a battery of questionnaires assessing their participation in PA (measured by Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) and PA related self-regulation strategies including self-monitoring, goal setting, seeking social support, seeking reinforcements, time management and relapse prevention (measured by Physical Activity Self-Regulation scale).

Subsequently, we conducted linear regression analysis to explore the relationship between the self-regulation and PA. We found that the self-regulation strategies significantly predicted the PA participation (F (12,627) = 9, p< 0.001) and explained 15,5 % of the variance in PA, with relapse prevention, time management, and goal setting having the most effect.

The results provide further evidence for the role of self-regulation strategies in enabling PA in older adults.