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Trajectories of Physical Activity and Risk Factors Among Taiwanese Older Adults

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Abstract

Background

The significance of physical activity has been noticed. However, the dynamic change and the heterogeneity of physical activity patterns among older people are little explored.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the trajectory patterns of engaging in physical activity over time and its related factors.

Method

Nationally representative four-wave panel data from Taiwanese older adults, gathered between 1996 and 2007, were used (n = 4,018). The participants ranged in age from 50 to 96 years old. “Being physically active” was defined as performing physical activity in sports or exercises at least three times per week and lasting for at least 30 min each time. Group-based trajectory analysis was performed for analyzing the data.

Results

Four trajectory patterns were identified: inactive (47.83 %), decreasing (12.21 %), increasing (23.36 %), and active (16.60 %). Older respondents and those with more education were more likely to be active. Those respondents having more depressive symptoms, having more physical functional limitations, and having jobs were less likely to be physically active in the decreasing, increasing, and active patterns.

Conclusion

There is heterogeneity among the trajectory patterns of physical activity across time in the older adults. Different strategies of physical activity promotion for the older people should be developed by the group characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by grants from the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China (NSC 101-2410-H-468-008-MY2). The data was provided by the Surveillance and Research Division, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare. The work of LYP is supported by the Health Policy Research Fellowship funded by the National Health Research Institute (Taiwan) (HP9802). The interpretation and conclusions contained herein do not represent those of the Bureau of Health Promotion. This study obtained approval of the Research Ethics Committee of Central Regional Research Ethics Center, Taiwan (CRREC-101-062). The authors declare there is no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Villa Grand-Montfleury, Chemin du Grand-Montfleury 48, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland

    Ling-Yen Pan

  2. Department of Health Care Administration, Research Center of Health Policy and Management, Asia University, No. 500, Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung City, 41354, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Hui-Chuan Hsu

  3. Institute of Health Policy and Management, National Taiwan University, No.17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei City, 100, Taiwan

    Wen-Chiung Chang

  4. School of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec.1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung City, 40201, Taiwan

    Dih-Ling Luh

Authors
  1. Ling-Yen Pan
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  2. Hui-Chuan Hsu
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  4. Dih-Ling Luh
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Correspondence to Hui-Chuan Hsu.

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Pan, LY., Hsu, HC., Chang, WC. et al. Trajectories of Physical Activity and Risk Factors Among Taiwanese Older Adults. Int.J. Behav. Med. 22, 62–69 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9409-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9409-3

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