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Engaging older adults to exercise: perspectives from student fitness trainers
Author
Ho, Yoke Meng
Supervisor
D'Rozario, Vilma
Abstract
Exercise, as a form of physical activity, is essential to maintaining good physical health and mental well-being for people of all ages. It is particularly beneficial to older adults and can help arrest their physical decline, prevent certain types of disease, and improve their quality of life significantly. Despite the overwhelming evidence attesting to the health benefits that result from regular exercise, more than 50% of Singapore residents between 16 and 24 years of age are physically inactive. Physical fitness trainers play a critical role in engaging older adults to exercise. While this is generally acknowledged, there is little research on this group of professionals, especially in terms of the challenges they face and the interventions they adopt to overcome these challenges. What kinds of support do they provide to engage and motivate older adults to exercise? What are the perceived barriers to exercise that older adults face? The present study aims to address these questions, thereby filling a gap in the existing literature. Through qualitative research, with in-depth face-to-face interviews focusing on 23 open-ended questions, the study seeks to examine the perception, personal attributes and practices of ten student fitness trainers in engaging older adults to exercise. The participants are being prepared for the industry, and their perspectives are important to understanding the barriers that prevent older adults from adopting a physically active lifestyle and the interventions that can be applied effectively to overcome these challenges. Despite the limitations of the study, the findings might contribute to a better understanding of the support required to motivate behaviour change and sustain exercise adherence among older adults, and with further research, also to support Singapore’s effort in promoting healthy and successful ageing.
Date Issued
2016
Call Number
GV482.6 Ho
Date Submitted
2016