Difficulties and motivations for physical exercise in women older than 65 years. A qualitative study.
Yolanda López-Benavente, José Arnau-Sánchez, Tania Ros-Sánchez and 3 others
PMID 30020333WHAT IT FOUND
Older women in Spain viewed housework as exercise, while regular exercisers saw it as planned activity.
Caregiving duties and fear of physical decline hindered participation, but social connection and autonomy strongly motivated women to exercise.
Key findings
01Participants had differing views on what counted as physical exercise, with some equating housework to exercise and others restricting it to planned activities outside the home.
02Women cited caregiving obligations and gender roles as primary barriers, sacrificing free time for domestic tasks and care of relatives.
03Motivation to exercise was driven by the desire for social connection, autonomy, and maintaining health, rather than just physical fitness.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a specific Basic Health Area in Spain, limiting generalizability to other cultural or geographic contexts. Participants may have been the most motivated or collaborative individuals, potentially excluding those with the greatest barriers to exercise. The use of audio recording may have inhibited spontaneity in some participants' responses.
Declared interests
The study received a Collaboration Scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports. No commercial conflicts of interest were reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that structured exercise improves health outcomes in this population. The study describes perceptions and barriers, not the efficacy of any intervention.