A study of the influence of social support and social networks on physical activity involvement of the elderly

Abstract

It has been documented in previous studies that involvement in physical activity has physical, social and psychological benefits for the elderly, but a large proportion of whom are physically inactive. Recently, social supports and social networks are drawing public attention, in order to increase participant for physical activity. The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of social supports and social networks on physical activity involvement among the elderly. Data for this study were obtained from 304 visitors over 60 years of age in 3 facilities in Fujisawa city in Kanagawa Prefecture. Data were analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis.
As a result, the following points were clarified.
1) Social supports for involvement in physical activity by the elderly consisted 4 factors. Not only human support has been used until now but also informational support, support concerning facilities, as well as programs and support in the access to all.
2) Females were much more active than males in the size and interaction within social networks.
3) Informational support factor had a direct and significant influence on physical activity involvement of active female elderly.
4) The frequency of interaction with other persons in social networks significantly and directly influenced involvement in physical activity in both male and female.
5) Health awareness in males, and age, health awareness and informational support factor in females for interactions within their social networks significantly impacted the frequency of contacts, which revealed a gender difference.
The present results suggest that future study should pay attention to developing criteria to assess social support and social network functions specific to the level of physical activity in which the elderly engage, in order to encourage their participation more effectively.