A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND PREDICTORS IN GREEK OLDER ADULTS: THE SURVEY ON HEALTH, AGEING AND RETIREMENT IN EUROPE

Authors

  • Eleni Theodoropoulou PhD, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ethnikis Antistaseos 41 Dafni 17237, Athens, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v10i2.4921

Keywords:

exercise, SHARE project, repeated measures, multinomial logistic regression

Abstract

Studies have indicated that participation in physical activity (PA) enhances health and reduces mortality rates. The current study investigated longitudinal PA levels in Greek older individuals, analyzing data of the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). In addition, predictors of the PA levels in 2020 were examined including the PA measures in 2017 and various variables. The SHARE is a cross-national database of non-institutionalized older population from 28 European countries. The current study analyzed the Greek sample of SHARE’s waves 7 and 8. In particular, 1767 individuals, 748 men and 1.019 women (69.40 ± 9.56 years) filled in the PA questions in both studies. To identify differences over time and PA predictors, Wilcoxon tests and Multinomial regression analyses were conducted respectively, due to the categorical form of the PA variables. Significant decreases were found between the vigorous PA measures in 2017 and 2020 (z = -2.80, p < 0.05), as well as between the moderate PA assessments in 2017 and 2020 (z = -4.88, p < 0.01). Young age, low alcohol consumption, few chronic diseases and activities’ limitations, low depression, as well as positive feelings and satisfaction with life and high levels of longitudinal PA, life expectancy and participation in sport and social clubs were significant predictors of high PA levels. Therefore, to enhance PA levels, interventions promoting active and healthy aging, positive feelings, life satisfaction and social activities should be adopted.

 

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Author Biography

  • Eleni Theodoropoulou, PhD, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ethnikis Antistaseos 41 Dafni 17237, Athens, Greece

    Eleni Theodoropoulou (PhD), researcher and teaching staff, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

    Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GzAY4rMAAAAJ&hl=el

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Published

2023-06-30

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2023)

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