Abstract
Evidence shows that older adults who expect decline with age are less likely to engage in 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous walking activities in the previous week compared to those with affirming aging expectations. The objective of the current study was to explore the impact that aging expectations have on other modes of physical activity. In the Greater Toronto Area, 249 community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults (M=70 years) returned a self-administered, cross-sectional, mailed-in survey. Measures of interest were the Expectations Regarding Aging survey (ERA-12) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Bivariate correlations revealed significant positive associations between overall aging expectations and a) overall physical activity (r=.19, p<.01), b) participation in strenuous sport (r=.15, p=.02), and c) lawn work or yard care (?=.14, p=.01). Examination of the ERA-12 sub-scales revealed that these overall effects were driven by the physical health ERA sub-scale only. Furthermore, physical aging expectations were also associated with participation in light sport activities (r=.14, p=.03), moderate sport activities (r=.15, p=.02), and light housework (?=.12, p=.04). Findings suggest that expectations of decline with age, namely declines in physical health, are associated with decreased reports of participation in various modes of physical activity. Promoting positive aspects of aging may help maintain levels of physical activity across the lifespan.Acknowledgments: Research support from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship (BAM) and Standard Research Grant (PLW, JB).