Purpose in life and accelerometer-measured physical activity among older adults

ObjectivePurpose in life is associated with engagement in physical activity and better cognitive health. This study examines the association between purpose in life and patterns of physical activity measured with an accelerometer and whether these patterns mediate the association between purpose and episodic memory among older adults.Methods and MeasuresThis research is a secondary analysis of data from the accelerometry sub-study of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Participants (N = 747; mean age = 79.20) reported on their purpose, wore an accelerometer for eight days, and completed an episodic memory task.ResultsPurpose in life was associated with healthier patterns of physical activity, including higher total activity counts (beta = .10, p = .002), more active bouts per day (beta = .11, p = .003), less activity fragmentation (beta = -.17, p < .001) and more sedentary fragmentation (beta = .11, p = .002). These associations were generally similar across age, sex, race and education. Higher total activity counts and less activity fragmentation were associated with better episodic memory and accounted for part of the association between purpose and episodic memory.ConclusionPurpose in life is associated with healthier patterns of physical activity measured through accelerometry among older adults and such patterns may be one factor in the pathway from purpose to healthier episodic memory.

Automated summary

This study examined the association between purpose in life and patterns of physical activity measured with an accelerometer among older adults. The results showed that purpose in life was associated with healthier patterns of physical activity, including higher total activity counts, more active bouts per day, less activity fragmentation, and more sedentary fragmentation. Higher total activity counts and less activity fragmentation were also associated with better episodic memory, which partially mediated the association between purpose and episodic memory.