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Positive messages enhance older adults’ motivation and recognition memory for physical activity programmes

Author

Listed:
  • Nanna Notthoff

    (Humboldt University Berlin)

  • Peter Klomp

    (University of Applied Science
    University of Groningen)

  • Friederike Doerwald

    (University of Groningen)

  • Susanne Scheibe

    (University of Groningen)

Abstract

Although physical activity is an effective way to cope with ageing-related impairments, few older people are motivated to turn their sedentary lifestyle into an active one. Recent evidence suggests that walking can be more effectively promoted in older adults with positive messages about the benefits of walking than with negative messages about the risks of inactivity. This study examined motivation and memory as the supposed mechanisms underlying the greater effectiveness of positively framed compared to negatively framed messages for promoting activity. Older adults (N = 53, age 60–87 years) were introduced to six physical activity programmes that were randomly paired with either positively framed or negatively framed messages. Participants indicated how motivated they were to participate in each programme by providing ratings on attractiveness, suitability, capability and intention. They also completed surprise free recall and recognition tests. Respondents felt more motivated to participate in physical activity programmes paired with positively framed messages than in those with negatively framed ones. They also had better recognition memory for positively framed than negatively framed messages, and misremembered negatively framed messages to be positively framed. Findings support the notion that socioemotional selectivity theory—a theory of age-related changes in motivation—is a useful basis for health intervention design.

Suggested Citation

  • Nanna Notthoff & Peter Klomp & Friederike Doerwald & Susanne Scheibe, 2016. "Positive messages enhance older adults’ motivation and recognition memory for physical activity programmes," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 251-257, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:13:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10433-016-0368-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-016-0368-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Derek M. Isaacowitz & Eric S. Allard & Nora A. Murphy & Mark Schlangel, 2009. "The Time Course of Age-Related Preferences Toward Positive and Negative Stimuli," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(2), pages 188-192.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ji Wen & Xiaolin Mai & Wei Li & Xin Liu, 2022. "The Influence of Message Framing on Elderly Tourists’ Purchase Intentions of Health Services: A Case Study of Guangxi Bama," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Tobias Eckert & Martin Bongartz & Phoebe Ullrich & Bastian Abel & Werner Christian & Rainer Kiss & Klaus Hauer, 2020. "Promoting physical activity in geriatric patients with cognitive impairment after discharge from ward-rehabilitation: a feasibility study," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 309-320, September.
    3. Nida Mugler & Hansjörg Baurecht & Kevin Lam & Michael Leitzmann & Carmen Jochem, 2022. "The Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Time in Different Target Groups and Settings in Germany: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Recommendations on Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-21, August.

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