Non-Participation:How Age Influences Inactive Women's Views of Exercise

摘要

Physical activity studies have often excluded women, resulting in limited information regarding the influences on women's non-participation. The present study aimed to explore the exercise views and cognitions of inactive adult women. Forty women aged 25-75 took part in the focus groups. Themes that emerged from the interviews included merits of exercise, thoughts and feelings, knowledge, barriers, and strategies. Results indicated that inactivity is due to a variety of culminating factors; health-promotion strategies need to specifically target different age groups. These strategies include increasing awareness of the social and psychological benefits of exercise, exercise as a supplement to activities of daily living, changing the perception of what constitutes exercise, and representing exercisers as a variety of ages and body shapes.