Examining the association between exercise habits in older adults and trajectory patterns of physical activity: Analysis of gender perspectives

抄録

This study seeks to examine the trajectory patterns of physical activity and identify its association with exercise habits in older adults while considering differences in trajectories between sexes. Secondary data from women and men aged 65 years and older collected in 2021 in Japan were analyzed. First, trajectory patterns of exercise habits was extracted. Subsequently, the relationship between the trajectory patterns and current exercise habits was examined. The results showed that the trajectory patterns of exercise habits in the three classes follow a similar pattern among women and men. One of them was consistently inactive throughout the life. Other two classes were delineated according to the degree of decline in physical activity from adolescence to adulthood. One female-specific class was found wherein, the physical activity decreased from adolescence to young adulthood and then increased again with aging. Two male-specific classes were observed. One was consistently active throughout the life course and class and the other slightly decreased in physical activity from adolescence to adulthood. A partial proportional odds model revealed that those who continued exercising from childhood to adulthood were more likely to be physically active in late adulthood than those who were consistently inactive. The female-specific finding was that those who increased the level of physical activity from young adulthood had a higher probability of being active in late adulthood. The male-specific finding was that those who were physically active until adolescence but became inactive in adulthood had a lower probability of being physically active in late adulthood.