Affiliation:
1. School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
2. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Physical activity (PA) is important for the healthy aging period, and existing research indicates that older adults in residential care facilities (RCFs) are less physically active compared with community-dwelling, but sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were not controlled. Lower PA levels might be due to older age and worse health conditions of the RCFs residents.
Objective:
This study examined the association between residential status (RCF vs. community-dwelling) and participation in PA, in a sample of 4009 older adults (65 and above) in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.
Methods:
The current study used Rounds 8 and 9 of the NHATS which was collected in 2018 and 2019. We conducted design-based logistic regression analyses to determine whether residential care status was significantly associated with participation in walking exercises and vigorous activities, and controlled for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics.
Results:
Using multivariable logistic regression models, older adults in RCFs (n=214) were more likely to participate in walking exercises (adjusted odds ratios=1.94, P<0.01) and equally likely to participate in vigorous activities (adjusted odds ratios=1.04, P=0.84) than community-dwelling (n=3795).
Conclusions:
Our finding adds new evidence to the conventional thinking about the potential effect of RCFs on PA. Further research is needed to address the underlying mechanisms.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)