Sitting Time in Adults 65 Years and Over: Behavior, Knowledge, and Intentions to Change

in Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

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Stephanie Alley
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Jannique G.Z. van Uffelen
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Mitch J. Duncan
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Katrien De Cocker
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Stephanie Schoeppe
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Amanda L. Rebar
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Corneel Vandelanotte
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This study examined sitting time, knowledge, and intentions to change sitting time in older adults. An online survey was completed by 494 Australians aged 65+. Average daily sitting was high (9.0 hr). Daily sitting time was the highest during TV (3.3 hr), computer (2.1 hr), and leisure (1.7 hr). A regression analysis demonstrated that women were more knowledgeable about the health risks of sitting compared to men. The percentage of older adults intending to sit less were the highest for TV (24%), leisure (24%), and computer (19%) sitting time. Regression analyses demonstrated that intentions varied by gender (for TV sitting), education (leisure and work sitting), body mass index (computer, leisure, and transport sitting), and physical activity (TV, computer, and leisure sitting). Interventions should target older adults’ TV, computer, and leisure time sitting, with a focus on intentions in older males and older adults with low education, those who are active, and those with a normal weight.

Alley, Schoeppe, Rebar, and Vandelanotte are with the Physical Activity Research Group, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia. van Uffelen is with the Dept. of Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Duncan is with the School of Medicine & Public Health, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia. De Cocker is with the Dept. of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Address author correspondence to Stephanie Alley at s.alley@cqu.edu.au

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