A hierarchy of correlates for objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time, and physical fitness in older adults: A CHAID analysis

The aging process reflects, in many cases, not only a decline in physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF), but also an increase in overall levels of sedentary time (ST). In order to hierarchically identify the most powerful correlates related to low and high levels of objectively assessed PA, ST, and PF during the late adulthood, a total of 2666 older adults were cross-sectionally evaluated. Multidimensional correlates were obtained through interview. Using chi-squared automatic detection analysis to identify the cluster of correlates with most impact on PA (<21.4 min/day), ST (>= 8 h/day), and PF (<33.3th percentile), was found that the most likely subgroup to be physically inactive consisted of widowers not owning a computer and sport facilities in the neighbourhood (94.7%), while not being widowed, reporting to have a family that exercises and a computer at home (54.3%) represented the subgroup less likely to be inactive. Widowers without sidewalks in the neighbourhood were the most sedentary group (91.0%), while being a married woman and reporting to have space to exercise at home (40%) formed the most favourable group of correlates regarding ST. Men reporting a financial income <500euro and physical problems frequently formed the group with the lowest PF level (70.3%). In contrast, the less likely subgroup to have low levels of PF level consisted of having a financial income >= 1000euro and a computer at home (3.4%). Future interventions should target widowers with limited accessibility to computer and urban/sport-related infrastructures, as well as impaired older adults with low financial income.

Automated summary

This study identified the key factors associated with low and high levels of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and physical fitness during late adulthood. Factors such as marital status, accessibility to technology and sports facilities, family participation in exercise, and financial income were found to have significant impacts. Widowers without a computer and sport facilities were more likely to be physically inactive, while individuals with a family that exercises and a computer at home were less likely to be inactive. Widowers without sidewalks in the neighborhood were the most sedentary, while married women with exercise space at home were the least sedentary. Men with low financial income and frequent physical problems had the lowest level of physical fitness, while those with a higher income and a computer at home had the highest level of physical fitness.