RNOtherInternational journal of nursing sciences2026

Physical literacy in older adults: An evolutionary concept analysis.

Jiekai Yang, Yaqin Li, Yuting Yang and 3 others

PMID 42521389

WHAT IT FOUND

Older adult physical literacy was mapped as body-based experience, multiple domains, resilience to aging and disease, and competence for ongoing activity.

It is a concept analysis, not evidence that any programme works.

Key findings

01The concept analysis identified four attributes of physical literacy in older adults: embodiment, multidimensionality, physical resilience and a comprehensive competence that promotes sustained physical activity.

02It organised antecedents into individual, social and environmental levels, and consequences into individual and societal benefits.

03It concluded that no mature, widely adopted assessment tool for older adult physical literacy exists, and the discussed scales were developed and validated in Chinese contexts.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs

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What it does not show

This is a concept analysis of literature, not a clinical trial, so it cannot show that any intervention works. Only English and Chinese publications were included, so perspectives from other languages may be missing. Most included studies were qualitative, theoretical or perspective papers, with few quantitative studies, limiting generalisability. The included studies were heterogeneous in design and discipline, and the final concept rests on synthesis rather than direct patient outcomes. The assessment tools discussed were developed and validated in Chinese contexts, and their cross-cultural applicability is not established.

Declared interests

The authors declared no conflict of interest. No funding source is reported in the supplied text.

The easy way to misread this

Do not treat physical literacy as a proven nursing intervention. The paper maps a concept from 30 mostly qualitative and theoretical studies; it does not test whether any activity programme improves physical activity, falls or quality of life.

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