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Being physically active in old age: relationships with being active earlier in life, social status and agents of socialisation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2010

JESUS MARTÍNEZ DEL CASTILLO ,
JOSÉ EMILIO JIMÉNEZ-BEATTY NAVARRO ,
JOSÉ LUIS GRAUPERA SANZ ,
MARÍA MARTÍN RODRÍGUEZ ,
ANTONIO CAMPOS IZQUIERDO  and
DAVID DEL HIERRO PINÉS
JESUS MARTÍNEZ DEL CASTILLO*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.
JOSÉ EMILIO JIMÉNEZ-BEATTY NAVARRO
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Physical Education and Sports, Alcalá University, Spain.
JOSÉ LUIS GRAUPERA SANZ
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Physical Education and Sports, Alcalá University, Spain.
MARÍA MARTÍN RODRÍGUEZ
Affiliation:
Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.
ANTONIO CAMPOS IZQUIERDO
Affiliation:
Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.
DAVID DEL HIERRO PINÉS
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Physical Education and Sports, Alcalá University, Spain.
*
Address for correspondence: Jesus Martínez del Castillo, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences-INEF, Polytechnic University of Madrid, c/Martín Fierro s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain. E-mail: jesus.martinezd@upm.es
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Abstract

Critical reviews of the literature on the factors that influence physical activity among older adults have argued that existing theoretical frameworks should be extended by integrating those that deal with the complex processes of socialisation and social learning. This paper explores some of the social processes that influence older people's participation in physical activity (beyond that associated with everyday domestic tasks). A questionnaire with items on personal, social and environmental characteristics was completed by a random sample of older adults in the Madrid Autonomous Region (Spain). Significant relationships were found between the type of physical activity participation and: being physically active at earlier life stages, socio-economic status, the encouragement of others or social support in being active, and the knowledge and availability of local facilities. Some cases were observed of re-socialisation into physical activity among those who had been inactive earlier in life, and both appropriate environmental and supportive social conditions appeared instrumental. The findings could usefully inform the design of future social programmes to promote active lifestyles in later life, but given the complexity of the socialisation processes, it would be advisable for future studies to examine other than the four factors featured in the presented analysis, such as the role of cultural differences.

Keywords

physical activityolder adultsparticipationsocio-economic statuslife coursesocial supportsports facilitiesresocialisation
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 30 , Issue 7 , October 2010 , pp. 1097 - 1113
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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