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Reasons for joining and adhering to a community-based fitness program among middle-aged and older adults

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dc.contributor.authorKirksey, Zoe, author
dc.contributor.authorLeach, Heather, advisor
dc.contributor.authorBurke, Kimberly, committee member
dc.contributor.authorBrothers, Allyson, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-09T20:51:11Z
dc.date.available2024-09-09T20:51:11Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractPurpose: Community-based fitness (CBF) programs address common barriers to physical activity (PA) participation for middle-aged and older adults and can help to increase regular PA. However, engagement in CBF programs among middle-aged and older adults is suboptimal, and those who do join tend to not adhere long-term. This study examined reasons for joining and adhering to a CBF program and explore common characteristics among long-term members. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional cohort study. Participants were monthly paying members of Adult Fitness, a CBF program at Colorado State University. Participants completed a 24-question quantitative survey, and monthly membership length was determined from participant records. To determine reasons for joining and adhering to Adult Fitness, two 5-point Likert scale questions, on a scale from 1(not motivated at all) to 5 (extremely motivated) were used. The response options were the same and consisted of unique aspects of Adult Fitness and replicated responses from a previous study. Frequency statistics were run on both questions and "motivated a great deal" and "extremely motivated" percentages were summed to determine most prevalent reasons for joining and most prevalent reasons for adhering. Long-term adhering members were defined as having a membership length of ≥5 years, and common characteristics were determined by a response that had more than a 50% response rate. Frequency statistics were run on survey questions to determine common characteristics. Results: The survey was distributed to N=151 members, and N=95 returned, for a response rate of 62%. There were n=8 duplicate and incomplete surveys, leaving a total of N=88 surveys included in analyses. Respondents were 70.5% older adults, 65+, 26.1% middle-aged adults, 35-64, and 3.4% young adults 18-34. Respondents were 50% female, and 50% male and average membership length was 132 months, 11 years (SD=142.8 months; range=563 months). For aim 1, the most frequently reported reasons for joining the Adult Fitness program were facilities available which 79.3% selected "motivated a great deal" or "extremely motivated", followed by self-initiated search for an activity program, 74.7%, and low cost, 60%. Most frequently reported reasons for adhering, were self-initiated desire to promote fitness and/or overall health, 95.4%, facilities available, 80.4%, and low cost, 60%. For aim 2, long-term adhering members (N=58) were motivated to join due to facilities available or self-initiated search for an activity program, motivated to adhere due to self-initiated desire to promote fitness and/or overall health, facilities available, and low cost, reported their current physical as either "good" or "very good", selected either "improvement of health" or "help me stay active" as their most perceived benefit of participating in Adult Fitness, attended the program on average of 3-days a week, and participated in 21-60 min of physical activity (PA) outside of Adult Fitness per day. Conclusion and Clinical Implications: The current study offers valuable insight to CBF program staff and organizational leaders. Understanding motivators of joining and adhering to CBF programs can contribute to tailoring these programs to increase membership and promote long-term participation/membership. These strategies may include offering competitive pricing, adding to existing facilities to cater to interest or needs of members and providing educational resources and progress tracking tools to keep members informed of their health status and/or improvement. Future studies are needed to better understand reasons for discontinuing CBF program.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierkirksey_colostate_0053N_18521.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/239157
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectexercise
dc.subjectolder adult
dc.subjectcommunity-based fitness program
dc.subjectphysical activity
dc.subjectmiddle-aged
dc.titleReasons for joining and adhering to a community-based fitness program among middle-aged and older adults
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineHealth and Exercise Science
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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