Determinants of initiation and maintenance of physical activity among older adults: a literature review

Abstract Understanding the determinants of changing physical activity among older adults is crucial for effective intervention development. The aim of this study was to review and update the evidence relating to the determinants of physical activity initiation and maintenance among older adults, and to explore the main similarities and dissimilarities in determinants between the two phases. Only longitudinal and experimental studies were used to assess the level of evidence. Fifty-nine longitudinal observational and experimental studies were identified. Recent studies were identified that focused on some recently developed concepts, especially in the field of the post-motivational concepts and several environmental determinants in predicting physical activity initiation and maintenance. Furthermore, dissimilarities were found in determinants between physical activity initiation and maintenance. It can be concluded that determinants are to a large degree phase-specific, which should be taken into account during further investigation, theory development and intervention development. Further investigation is needed to study the importance of promising concepts, such as post-motivational and environmental determinants. Recommendations for further empirical research, theory development and intervention development are outlined in this review. Keywords: physical activityliterature reviewolder adultsdeterminants Acknowledgements This study was financially supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW).