Physical exercise and sense of well-being among Chinese elderly in Taiwan.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to test an exercise model's ability to predict physical exercise and sense of well-being among Chinese men and women aged 65 and over. The exercise model was adapted from Pender's Health Promotion Model (1987) and the findings of a literature review. The model proposed that five modifying variables (age, gender, education, financial satisfaction, interpersonal influences) would produce direct influences on physical exercise and result in higher levels of sense of well-being. At the same time, modifying factors might influence physical exercise and sense of well-being indirectly through their influences on the five cognitive-perceptual variables (perceived health status, perceived importance of exercise, perceived self-efficacy for exercise, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise).;Home visits were conducted to collect data from 196 Chinese elderly men and women, aged 65 and over, living in Ban-Chiao City, Taiwan, using self-report questionnaires. The questionnaires included a demographic data sheet, Past Year Regular Physical Exercise Questionnaire, Interpersonal Influences Scale, Perceived Importance of Exercise Scale, Self-rated Health Subindex, Self-rated Abilities for Health Practices Exercise Subscale, Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale. Qualitative data were also collected through open-ended questions to enrich and supplement the quantitative findings.;The relationships proposed by the model were partially supported by the data. The results indicated that persons who were younger, were more satisfied with their financial status, perceived more positive influences on exercise practice from others, placed more importance on exercise, perceived themselves as healthier, were able to practice regular exercise, and perceived more benefits and fewer barriers to exercise, had greater levels of physical exercise. The exercise model predicted 46% of the variance in physical exercise. Of all the variables, self-efficacy for exercise, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise made significant contributions to the prediction of physical exercise. The model predicted 38% of the variance in sense of well-being. Financial satisfaction and perceived health status were the only variables in the model that contributed significantly to the variance in sense of well-being.;Most of the qualitative findings supported the quantitative findings. Modification of the instruments used to measure perceived benefits and barriers to exercise were suggested by the responses in order to more accurately reflect the experiences of this population. Personal interests and previous habits emerged from the qualitative data as important predictors of physical exercise in the elderly and should be part of the model to be tested in future research.