How to encourage physical activity in older people with multimorbidity?

Harvey, Seamus and Coklar Okutkan, Isil and Poll, Anneleen and Polak, Sarah and Teixeira, Filipa and Dinsmore, John and Jacobs, An and Doyle, Julie (2024) How to encourage physical activity in older people with multimorbidity? In: The British Psychological Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Annual Conference, December 2024, Belfast. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Objectives As the population ages, the number of older people living with multimorbidity (PwMs) increases (Nguyen et al., 2019). Older PwMs face considerable challenges to manage their conditions (e.g., complex medication regimens) (Wallace et al., 2015). One challenge that has received little attention is physical activity engagement. The objectives of this study were to explore the facilitators of and barriers to older PwMs’ physical activity engagement. Design A qualitative study. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 80 PwMs aged 65 and older in Ireland (n = 40) and Belgium (n = 40). The participants reported at least two of the following conditions: a lung condition (e.g., COPD), diabetes, chronic heart failure, and/or chronic heart disease (e.g., hypertension). The data were analysed using a collaborative thematic analysis approach (Richards & Hemphill, 2018). Results Intrapersonal factors (e.g., the type and severity of one’s conditions, and one’s motivation and confidence to engage in physical activity), interpersonal factors (e.g., one’s support or lack thereof from family, friends, and/or healthcare services), and environmental factors (e.g., the presence or absence of local amenities) can act as facilitators of and/or barriers to older PwMs’ physical activity engagement. Conclusions Researchers and/or practitioners can use these findings to design interventions that maximise and mitigate the facilitators of and barriers to older PwMs’ physical activity engagement respectively, thus aiding older PwMs to better manage their conditions. This study was part of the SEURO project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement number 945449.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Subjects:	Social Sciences > Older people Psychology
Research Centres:	Netwell/CASALA
Depositing User:	Séamus Harvey
Date Deposited:	20 Feb 2026 09:30
Last Modified:	20 Feb 2026 09:30
URI:	https://eprints.dkit.ie/id/eprint/1015

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