Comparing preferences to evaluations of barrier self-efficacy for two strength training programs in US older adults

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 19; no. 5; p. e0302892
• Main Authors: Kurth, Jordan D, Sciamanna, Christopher N, Herrell, Cheyenne, Moeller, Matthew, Stine, Jonathan G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 09.05.2024; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biology and Life Sciences; Choice (Psychology); Comparative analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Effectiveness; Ethnicity; Exercise; Exercise - psychology; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Maintenance; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Older people; Patient Preference - statistics & numerical data; People and Places; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Preferences; Psychological aspects; Ratings; Research and Analysis Methods; Resistance Training; Review boards; Self Efficacy; Self-efficacy (Psychology); Social Sciences; Sports training; Strength training; Surveys; Training; United States; Weight training; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302892

Engagement in regular physical activity is one of the best strategies for older adults to remain healthy. Unfortunately, only 35% of older adults meet guidelines for muscle strengthening activities. Eliciting participant preferences is one possible way to improve physical activity engagement. However, other sources of participant input to improve uptake and maintenance remain uninvestigated. This study compared preferences to self-efficacy ratings for two strength training programs. We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of 611 US adults over age 65. We compared two participant evaluations (the preferred program and the program for which they had higher barrier self-efficacy) of two hypothetical strength training programs (45 minutes performed three times per week (traditional) and 5 minutes performed daily (brief)). Most participants (68%) preferred the brief strength training program. The difference in self-efficacy ratings was an average of 1.2 (SD = 0.92). One in five participants preferred a strength training program for which they had less self-efficacy; nearly all of these participants (92%) preferred the traditional strength training program but had more self-efficacy for the brief strength training program. Older adults reported preferring and having more self-efficacy for a brief compared to a traditional strength training program. Differences in self-efficacy ratings between the two strength training programs were large. Preferences were often not congruent with ratings of self-efficacy. Preferences for strength training programming may not always reflect the program most likely to be maintained. Future investigations should evaluate differences in behavioral uptake, maintenance, and outcomes from two comparative strength training interventions using preferences and self-efficacy.