Koeneman Margot A, Chorus Astrid, Hopman-Rock Marijke, Chinapaw Mai J M
Body@Work, Research Center for Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
BMC Geriatr. 2017 Jan 6;17(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12877-016-0394-z.
Physical activity (PA) levels of older adults living in a care setting are known to be very low. This is a significant health(care) problem, as regular PA has many health benefits also at advanced age. Research on automatic processes underlying PA behaviour in physically inactive older adults is yet non-existing. Since people are unconsciously influenced by people around them (i.e. by 'social norms') automatic processes could be used to promote PA. We developed an explorative intervention method to assess the effects of automatically processed (implicit) descriptive social norms ('What most people do') on behavioral intention and participation in PA offered in a local residential care setting.
Forty-seven care clients met the inclusion criteria. Participants (response 45%; unaware of the intention of the research) were randomly assigned to an experimental (N = 10) or a control group (N = 11). The experimental group was exposed to photos and text heading on active peers (physically active implicit descriptive norm) using a draft newsletter article they were asked to comment on, whereas the control group was exposed to a newsletter with photos and text heading of inactive peers (physically inactive implicit descriptive norm). Subsequently, we tested (Fishers exact p < 0.10) whether this unaware exposure predicted intention (implicit and explicit) to participate in PA offered and organized by the care center (e.g. walking, gymnastics) and self-reported participation in organised PA at three months follow-up. Participants were debriefed later.
Mean age was 87 years (SD = 3.6; range 80-95) and 53% of the participants were male. At baseline, there were no significant differences in self-rated health and PA between the experimental and control group. Results indicated that implicit descriptive norm information was associated with implicit PA intention (p = .056, Fisher's exact test). No significant effects were found on explicit intention. At 3 months follow-up the experimental group self-reported 80% participation in PA versus 22% in the control group (Fisher's exact test p = 0.027).
Implicit descriptive social norm information could indeed be a potentially effective way to encourage inactive older adults in residential care to engage in organized PA.
众所周知，生活在护理机构中的老年人身体活动（PA）水平非常低。这是一个重大的健康（护理）问题，因为规律的身体活动即使在高龄时也有诸多健康益处。目前尚不存在针对身体活动不足的老年人身体活动行为背后自动过程的研究。由于人们会受到周围人（即“社会规范”）的无意识影响，自动过程可用于促进身体活动。我们开发了一种探索性干预方法，以评估自动处理的（内隐的）描述性社会规范（“大多数人所做的事情”）对在当地养老院提供的身体活动的行为意图和参与度的影响。
47名护理对象符合纳入标准。参与者（回复率45%；未意识到研究意图）被随机分配到实验组（N = 10）或对照组（N = 11）。实验组通过一篇他们被要求评论的时事通讯文章草稿，接触到活跃同龄人（身体活跃的内隐描述性规范）的照片和文字标题，而对照组接触到不活跃同龄人（身体不活跃的内隐描述性规范）的照片和文字标题的时事通讯。随后，我们测试（费舍尔精确检验p < 0.10）这种未被察觉的接触是否预测了参与护理中心提供和组织的身体活动（如散步、体操）的意图（内隐和外显），以及在三个月随访时自我报告的有组织身体活动的参与情况。参与者随后接受了汇报。
平均年龄为87岁（标准差 = 3.6；范围80 - 95岁），53%的参与者为男性。在基线时，实验组和对照组在自我评定的健康状况和身体活动方面没有显著差异。结果表明，内隐描述性规范信息与内隐身体活动意图相关（p = 0.056，费舍尔精确检验）。在外显意图方面未发现显著影响。在三个月随访时，实验组自我报告有80%参与身体活动，而对照组为22%（费舍尔精确检验p = 0.027）。
内隐描述性社会规范信息确实可能是鼓励养老院中身体活动不足的老年人参与有组织身体活动的一种潜在有效方式。
