EXERCISE AND EXERCISE INTENTIONS ON THE PART OF THE OLDER ADULT: AN EXAMINATION OF THE THEORY OF REASONED ACTION AND MEASUREMENT OF THE SUBJECTIVE NORM

The prime concern of this study was an understanding of factors affecting the well-being of older adults. The concepts of exercise intentions and exercise behavior on the part of older adults were examined. A sample population of 254 retired males and females over 60 years of age was secured from intact-groups in a midwest community. The intent of this investigation was to educationally affect behavior change in older adults\u27 exercise patterns. A survey instrument using semantic differential scales was constructed using protocol from the Theory of Reasoned Action model. An initial survey was administered to measure behavioral intent, attitude, and subjective norm. Measurement of the subjective norm was examined by using a brief, traditional measure and a more detailed, open-ended measure of the survey. A month later, a follow-up measure of self-reported exercise behavior was obtained. Thirty-two percent of the sample indicated they were extremely likely to exercise within a four-week period while four percent were extremely unlikely to do so. When exercise behavior was measured, 15 percent of the sample reported an absence of exercise activity. Walking and calisthenics were the most common modes of exercise for the respondents. Exercise intentions were found to be statistically significant in predicting older adults\u27 exercise behavior. Components of exercise intentions (attitude and subjective norm) were found to predict exercise intentions to a statistically significant degree. Attitude was more influential in prediction than subjective norm. Attitude accounted for 55 percent of explained variance of exercise intention. A more detailed measure of the subjective norm conponent failed to obtain a greater explained variance for subjective norm. Older adult exercisers were distinguished from non-exercisers by the strength of exercise beliefs and the evaluations of belief outcomes. Older adult exercisers were not different from non-exercisers on the basis of perceived referent expectations or motivation to comply