The Meaning of Sedentary Behavior as Experienced by People in the Transition From Working Life to Retirement: An Empirical Phenomenological Study.
Caroline Eklund, Magnus L Elfström, Petra von Heideken Wågert and 5 others
PMID 33951141WHAT IT FOUND
Retired older adults described sitting or lying down as sometimes meaningful rest, sometimes involuntary and tied to pain, loneliness or lost routines.
Their experience varied with season, health and social support.
Key findings
01Some participants experienced sedentary time as meaningful rest, recovery or a way to escape pain and tiredness.
02Involuntary sedentary time was linked to loneliness, social isolation and reduced energy or health problems.
03Routines, supportive social environments and conscious choices were described as ways to delay or interrupt sedentary patterns.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included 14 people, all ethnic Swedes, from middle Sweden, so experiences may not apply to other groups. Participants had been retired for 1 to 13 years, so the study may not capture the immediate transition from work to retirement. The analysis did not reveal a general structure because participants described sedentary behavior in different ways. The researchers did not ask participants to check the final themes, and the analysis depended on interpretation by the first and last authors. The study did not test whether routines, social support or advice change sedentary behavior.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the School of Health, Care and Social Welfare at Mälardalen University. The funders played no role in the design, conduct or reporting of the study.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that routines, social support or advice reduce sedentary behavior. This was a qualitative interview study, not an intervention trial, and it did not test whether these things work.