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. 2010 Apr;18(2):201-18.
doi: 10.1123/japa.18.2.201.

Strength training and older women: a cross-sectional study examining factors related to exercise adherence

Rebecca A Seguin  1 , Christina D Economos, Ruth Palombo, Raymond Hyatt, Julia Kuder, Miriam E Nelson
Affiliations

Strength training and older women: a cross-sectional study examining factors related to exercise adherence

Rebecca A Seguin et al. J Aging Phys Act. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Despite the recognized health benefits, few older women participate in strength-training exercises.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to older women's adherence to strength training after participation in the StrongWomen Program, a nationally disseminated community program. Adherence was defined as > or =4 months of twice-weekly strength training. Surveys were sent to 970 program participants from 23 states and to participants' corresponding program leaders. Five-hundred fifty-seven participants responded (57%).

Results: Of respondents who completed surveys (527), 79% (415) adhered to strength training; adherers reported a mean of 14.1 +/- 9.1 months of strength training. Logistic-regression analysis revealed that exercise adherence was positively associated with age (p = .001), higher lifetime physical activity levels (p = .045), better perceived health (p = .003), leader's sports participation (p = .028), and leader's prior experience leading programs (p = .006).

Conclusion: These data lend insight to factors that may be related to exercise adherence among midlife and older women.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Socioecological framework describing the leader, participant, and community characteristics examined in this study and how they may be related to implementation (leaders) and adherence (participants). The community-level characteristics also help describe the larger contextual landscape of the dissemination environment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Participant survey response.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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