The perceptions of older persons on exercise : a Maltese study

Abstract

Background: The number of older persons is on the increase worldwide, they are encouraged to remain active, by exercising. There are various barriers and motivators to initiating or maintaining exercises. Exercising is dependent on accessibility, environment, self-perceived health status, social-engagement and age-appropriate regimes. Aims: The study aimed to explore the perceptions of exercise from older persons living in a Maltese community. It included exploring the incentives to commence/or continue to exercise, and barriers to exercising. Method: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was chosen, to obtain an in-depth perspective from the participants, about the phenomenon of exercise. The qualitative study included nine participants over the age of sixty four; six female and three males, recruited via a gatekeeper. The participants were residents at Birzebbugia, lived independently and attended the locality’s Active Ageing Community Centre (AACC). Data was collected between July and August 2020 through semi-structured interviews. Results: Five (5) main themes emerged; (1) Self-efficacy and perceptions of one’s own ability. (2) personal biography, health literacy, knowledge and information sources, (3) exercising within a group versus individualized settings, (4) adjusting to new circumstances and (5) accessibility and opportunities to carry through and/or initiate exercising. It was down to each individual’s preference to choose to exercise how she/he wished. Conclusion: Through this study, it emerged that older persons had different views and opinions about exercise. There were varying reasons as to why they would want to initiate exercising and what kept them from doing so. Findings were comparable to international research.