Physical activity intervention for motivated older adults: what went wrong? What was learned?

Abstract

Background: A 3-hour face-to-face group intervention for physical activity (PA) and volunteering (VO) was developed respectively. Behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were parallel for both behaviours: information about benefits, focus on past success, goal setting, action planning (use of cues), modelling behaviour (video) and self-monitoring. Methods: The RCT (5 time-points, 15 months, N=310) compared a PA against a VO group and a waiting list control group (CO). Outcomes were self-reports and accelerometer-assessed PA (for at random assigned accelerometer wearers). Self-reported minutes per week assessed VO. What went wrong: PA did neither increase in the PA nor the VO group as compared to all other groups. VO increased at 6-weeks-follow-up but levelled out afterwards and did not affect PA. Possible solutions: A recent review suggests that self-regulatory BCTs diminish the effects of PA interventions in older adults. Conclusions: In the present group sessions, planning and self-monitoring evoked reactance in some participants. Interventions for older adults could try to avoid self-regulatory strategies and put more emphasis on positive affect through PA and flexible schedules of retired persons.