What question did this study set out to answer?

The study identifies socioeconomic and demographic factors that affect compliance with physical activity guidelines among older adults in the U.S.

March 12, 2026Open Access

The Association Between Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Factors and Meeting the Recommended Physical Activity Guidelines in Older Adults in the U.S.

BTBetty R. Sierra TamargoFlorida International University PVPura Rodríguez de la VegaFlorida International University NBNoël C. Barengo

Key Points

The study identifies socioeconomic and demographic factors that affect compliance with physical activity guidelines among older adults in the U.S.
Analytical cross-sectional design utilizing NHIS 2022 data.
Sample size of 8189 older adults aged 65 and above.
Measured compliance with aerobic and strengthening physical activity guidelines.
Conducted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses to estimate odds ratios.
Only 14.4% of older adults met the recommended physical activity guidelines.
Men were 40% more likely to comply than women (OR 1.4).
Higher education levels increased compliance; less than high school graduates were much less likely to comply (OR 0.3).
Lower income-to-poverty ratios were associated with decreased odds of meeting guidelines, indicating significant socioeconomic disparities.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with meeting the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines for older adults. This analytical, cross-sectional study used data from the 2022 NHIS, including 8189 older adults (≥65 years). Compliance with aerobic and strengthening PA guidelines was the main outcome variable. Covariates included sex, education, income, relationship status, race, housing stability, urban/rural county, health status, and region. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Only 14.4% (n = 1235) of older adults met the PA guidelines. Odds of complying decreased by 40% in NH single/multiple races (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–1.0). Men had higher odds (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2–1.6) of adhering than women. Compared with those with a bachelor’s degree, the odds of adhering were 1.4 (95% CI 1.2–1.7) for graduate participants, 0.3 (95% CI 0.2–0.4) for participants with less than HS education, 0.4 (95% CI 0.3–0.5) for HS graduates, and 0.7 (95% CI 0.6–0.8) for those with some college education. The odds decreased by 40% for those with an income-to-poverty ratio threshold < 1 (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9), 1–1.99 (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.7), and 2–3.99 (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.5–0.8) compared with ≥5. Healthcare providers should develop targeted interventions to address individuals’ unique circumstances and reduce these inequities.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper