Social cognitive determinants of physical activity among retired older individuals: an application of the health action process approach.

Objective: The identification of the determinants of physical activity (PA) among older adults is an important avenue of research. To date, although the health action process approach (HAPA) has proven to be a valid framework for the prediction of PA among heterogeneous sample of both middle-aged and older adults in rehabilitation and work settings, no studies have specifically considered its predictive value among older adults in their retirement years. Therefore, drawing upon the HAPA, the present study aimed to identify the social cognitive determinants of PA involvement among retired older adults.

Design: A 6-month prospective design was employed.

Method: Participants were retired older individuals (N= 120), members of a French university-based organization, aged from 53 to 83 years (Mean = 65.38 years; SD= 5.63). They were administrated measures of risk perception, action self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and PA intention at baseline (T1) and of planning, coping self-efficacy, and PA behaviour 6 months later (T2).

Results: Path analyses revealed that, in the motivational phase, action self-efficacy and risk perception, but not outcome expectancies, were positively related to PA intention. In the volitional phase, PA intention and coping self-efficacy, but not planning, were positive predictors of PA behaviour.

Conclusion: The present study contributes to existing knowledge as the first to apply the HAPA for the prediction of PA among retired older adults. It confirms that it provides a useful framework for the understanding of the social cognitive processes underlying this behaviour for this age group.