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NON-PARTICIPATORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO TAKING PART IN FITNESS CLASSES AT SENIOR CENTERS

McGuire, Michelle
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1493322921375054

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Gerontological Studies, Miami University, Gerontology.
This study aimed to fill a gap in knowledge regarding senior center attendees who choose not to participate in fitness classes offered at their senior center. It assessed perceived benefits and barriers related to participation in these classes, among older adults who use the center for other reasons. It also assessed whether activity level over the lifespan, age and education were associated with perceived benefits and barriers. Findings suggest that non-participators are more likely to identify benefits (M=3.21 out of seven possible) that would increase their likelihood of participating, rather than barriers (M=1.48) that inhibit participation. The benefits selected most often were related to improving overall health and well-being, followed by increasing strength or balance. Only a few statistically significant relationships were observed between activity level over the lifespan, age, and gender with benefits or barriers. For example, males identified significantly fewer barriers to participating in fitness classes than did females. Implications: Education, programming, and fitness class promotion should focus on the personal and health benefits of being physically active. In addition, it only takes one barrier to prevent participation; senior centers should strive to understand, and help potential participants mitigate any identified barriers.
Jonathon Vivoda (Committee Chair)
Gerontology
Physical activity, senior centers, benefits, barriers

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McGuire, M. (2017). NON-PARTICIPATORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO TAKING PART IN FITNESS CLASSES AT SENIOR CENTERS [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1493322921375054

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McGuire, Michelle. NON-PARTICIPATORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO TAKING PART IN FITNESS CLASSES AT SENIOR CENTERS. 2017. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1493322921375054.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McGuire, Michelle. "NON-PARTICIPATORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO TAKING PART IN FITNESS CLASSES AT SENIOR CENTERS." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1493322921375054

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1493322921375054
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© , some rights reserved.Creative Commons License NON-PARTICIPATORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO TAKING PART IN FITNESS CLASSES AT SENIOR CENTERS by Michelle McGuire is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.