Determinants of Regular Physical Activities in Iranian Older Adults Based on the Extended Social Cognitive Theory

Abstract

Inadequate physical activity is a risk factor of diseases and early death in older adults. Promotion of an active lifestyle is a key strategy to help perseveration of health and quality of life along with aging. The present study is an attempt to determine the indicators of regular physical activities in older adults using the extended social cognitive theory. The study was carried out as a cross-sectional study on 610 older adults in age range 60–75 years selected from 10 retired guild unions in Kermanshah City. Data gathering was done using a demographics form, physical activity scale for the older adults, and an extended social cognitive theory. Data analyses were done using a structural equation modeling, Chi square test, independent-t, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient in SPSS (v.25) and AMOS (v.24). The mean age of the participants was 65.93 years (SD = 5.02). Results showed that 18% of changes in intention and 62% changes in physical activity behavior of the participants were predicted by the extended social cognitive theory. Outcome expectations (β = 0.26), self-efficacy in overcoming impediments (β = 0.21), and outcome expectancies (β = 0.10) were the predictors of the intention of doing physical activity. In addition, intention (β = 0.74) and health literacy of physical activity (β = 0.13) were the predictors of physical activity behavior. Goodness of fit indices of the model also supported goodness of fit. The extended social cognitive theory with the constructs namely health literacy and intention is a reliable model to predict physical activity behavior in older adults.