IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i20p10816-d656618.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Physical Activity and Its Determinants among Senior Residents of Podlasie, a Green Region of Poland, Based on the National PolSenior Study

Author

Listed:
  • Rafał Rowiński

    (Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka Street 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
    Department of Socio Economic Activity, Institute of Socio-Economic Activity, 01-802 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Grażyna Kowalska

    (Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka Street 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland)

  • Mariusz Kozakiewicz

    (Department of Food Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum, 85-626 Bydgoszcz, Poland
    Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University of Toruń, 85-626 Toruń, Poland)

  • Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska

    (Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University of Toruń, 85-626 Toruń, Poland
    Department of Geriatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, L. Rydgier Collegium Medicum, 85-626 Bydgoszcz, Poland)

  • Maciej Kornatowski

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Mazovian Public College, 09-402 Płock, Poland)

  • Joanna Hawlena

    (Department of Tourism and Recreation, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka Street 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland)

  • Karolina Rowińska

    (Department of Movement Teaching, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

Physical activity is essential at all stages of life, and particularly so in the later years. The main objectives of the present work was to evaluate the physical activity of seniors, aged 65 years and older, living in the area of the Podlaskie voivodeship (Podlasie), Poland, based on the results of the nationwide PolSenior project, and to formulate recommendations for health policies implemented by both national and local government units. The study was performed as part of the national PolSenior project, whose aim was to evaluate various aspects of aging in Poland. The physical activity of a group of 186 randomly-selected people aged 65 years and above, 94 men and 92 women, was evaluated by questionnaire. The analysis included participants who took part in physical activity at least several times a week. Although all participants reported a decline in physical activity with age, the men remained physically active for longer. Among the respondents, 68.3% of women and 62.7% of men took short walks around the house as the main form of exercise, with working on the allotment or garden being another frequent activity; however, this was more common among men (53.9%) than women (34.7%). In addition, men were nearly twice as likely to take part in cycling (31.5%) than women (13.1%). The greatest motivation for physical activity given by the respondents was health, as noted by 73.8% of the men and 77.7% of the women. The physical activity of seniors in Podlasie is unsatisfactory and does not fulfil the WHO recommendations regarding the prophylaxis and prevention of chronic illness. This level does not, however, significantly differ from that reported in the nationwide PolSenior study or in other European countries in the Eurobarometer study. The decline in physical activity with age highlights the need for its greater promotion among seniors by local authorities. Such initiatives will help maintain the physical fitness and independence of this age group and contribute to a greater quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafał Rowiński & Grażyna Kowalska & Mariusz Kozakiewicz & Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska & Maciej Kornatowski & Joanna Hawlena & Karolina Rowińska, 2021. "Physical Activity and Its Determinants among Senior Residents of Podlasie, a Green Region of Poland, Based on the National PolSenior Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10816-:d:656618
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10816/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/20/10816/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antonio Moreno-Llamas & Jesús García-Mayor & Ernesto De la Cruz-Sánchez, 2020. "Physical activity barriers according to social stratification in Europe," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(8), pages 1477-1484, November.
    2. Sara Wilcox & Melissa Bopp & Larissa Oberrecht & Sandra K. Kammermann & Charles T. McElmurray, 2003. "Psychosocial and Perceived Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in Rural and Older African American and White Women," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(6), pages 329-337.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Anna Mazur & Elżbieta Bartoń, 2022. "The Structure of the Relationship between Physical Activity and Psychosocial Functioning of Women and Men during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej & Agnieszka Ćwirlej-Sozańska & Anna Wilmowska-Pietruszyńska & Bernard Sozański, 2022. "Determinants of Physical Activity in Older Adults in South-Eastern Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Elżbieta Biernat & Justyna Krzepota & Dorota Sadowska, 2023. "Active or Passive Aging? Analysis of Selected Socioeconomic Factors in the Polish Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-10, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Baldwin Hess, Daniel, 2009. "Access to Public Transit and Its Influence on Ridership for Older Adults in Two U.S. Cities," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 2(1), pages 3-27.
    2. Won, Jaewoong & Lee, Chanam & Forjuoh, Samuel N. & Ory, Marcia G., 2016. "Neighborhood safety factors associated with older adults' health-related outcomes: A systematic literature review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 177-186.
    3. Yuh‐Min Chen, 2010. "Perceived barriers to physical activity among older adults residing in long‐term care institutions," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3‐4), pages 432-439, February.
    4. Guo, Zhan & Loo, Becky P.Y., 2013. "Pedestrian environment and route choice: evidence from New York City and Hong Kong," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 124-136.
    5. Celia Marcen & Eduardo Piedrafita & Rubén Oliván & Irela Arbones, 2022. "Physical Activity Participation in Rural Areas: A Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Cao, Xinyu & Mokhtarian, Patricia L. & Handy, Susan L., 2007. "Residential and Travel Choices of Elderly Residents of Northern California," 48th Annual Transportation Research Forum, Boston, Massachusetts, March 15-17, 2007 207925, Transportation Research Forum.
    7. Birthe Jongeneel-Grimen & Wim Busschers & Mariël Droomers & Hans A M van Oers & Karien Stronks & Anton E Kunst, 2013. "Change in Neighborhood Traffic Safety: Does It Matter in Terms of Physical Activity?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-12, May.
    8. Elżbieta Antczak & Katarzyna M. Miszczyńska, 2021. "Causes of Sickness Absenteeism in Europe—Analysis from an Intercountry and Gender Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Coulon, Sandra M. & Wilson, Dawn K. & Egan, Brent M., 2013. "Associations among environmental supports, physical activity, and blood pressure in African-American adults in the PATH trial," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 108-115.
    10. Jennifer Golbeck & Carman Neustaedter, 2016. "Environmental Factors Affecting Where People Geocache," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-6, April.
    11. Jesús García-Mayor & Élvio Rúbio Gouveia & Adilson Marques & Ernesto De la Cruz-Sánchez & Antonio Moreno-Llamas & Cíntia França & Bruna R. Gouveia & Andreas Ihle, 2022. "Exploring the Role of Physical Activity in Mediating the Association between Educational Level and Health-Related Quality of Life in an Adult Lifespan Sample from Madeira Island," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    12. Ståhl, Agneta & Horstmann, Vibeke & Iwarsson, Susanne, 2013. "A five-year follow-up among older people after an outdoor environment intervention," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 134-141.
    13. Zhengying Liu & Wenli Huang & Yuan Lu & You Peng, 2021. "Older Adults’ Choice of Patterns of Outdoor Physical Activity Duration: A Mixed Multinomial Logit Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, August.
    14. Nuan-Ching Huang & Shiann-Far Kung & Susan C. Hu, 2018. "The Relationship between Urbanization, the Built Environment, and Physical Activity among Older Adults in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10816-:d:656618. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.