Challenges and motivators to physical activity faced by retired men when ageing: a qualitative study

Ebba Langum Bredland, Sylvia Söderström, Kjersti Vik, Ebba Langum Bredland, Sylvia Söderström, Kjersti Vik

Abstract

Background: Active ageing reflects the message from World Health Organisation about addressing the challenge faced by the rapidly ageing population. Knowledge about barriers and facilitators to an active lifestyle must be given more attention. In addition, men seem to participate less in cultural activities and less in fall-prevention groups than women do. When mostly women work with the elderly in primary care, one might question whether the activities offered to older men meet their activity preferences. The aim of this study is to provide new knowledge about challenges and motivators encountered by retired men in maintaining physical activity when ageing.

Methods: Nine retired men, aged between 66 and 83, wrote a Time Geographic Diary for 7 days each. Two focus group discussions with the men were held. A Systemic Text Condensation was used to analyse the data.

Results: The analyses identified three categories to describe challenges in being physical active: differences between men and women; meaningful physical activity; and environmental - especially socio-cultural - constraints. Motivating conditions were seen as: new activities to get younger friends, and more information about how to cope.

Conclusions: To achieve the aim of active ageing, service providers as well as local authorities need to have a better understanding of the challenges retired men encounter when ageing. This study highlights vital aspects of the challenges faced by retired men in maintaining their physical activity level.

Keywords: Active ageing; Elderly men; Motivators; Perceived challenges; Physical activity; Qualitative study; Social influence.

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the ethics review board, Norwegian Social Science Data Services, no. 30651. Each participant signed the consent form. They were given written and oral information and could ask questions. They knew they could withdraw from the project at any time.

Consent for publication

All the participants gave their consent to publish the results as well as the characteristics in the Table 1.

Competing interests

The authors report no competing interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Newell’s schematic diagram of categories of constraint: modified by Haywood and Getchell
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Some perceived challenges for physical activity
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Some perceived motivators for physical activity

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