- Title
- Effect of exercise on older adults, and factors influencing physical activity for residents living in Australian residential homes
- Creator
- Alowaydhah, Samaher Mohammed
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2025
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Background and purpose. The global population of older adults is notably becoming larger, prompting a surge in the prevalence of age-related chronic conditions. Consequently, this has prompted a growing cohort of older individuals who require specialised health services, thereby increasing the pressure placed on healthcare systems, hospital facilities, support services, and residential care provisions. This rising demand for specialised health services challenges the economies of nations to meet the consequent rising demands in healthcare budgets. Physical exercise (PE) has been commonly acknowledged as a cost-efficient method for tackling the effects and associated comorbidities of aging. This thesis expands on what is currently understood regarding the benefits of exercise in older adults by exploring the nuances of what types of exercises are most effective for older adults with different health needs. The researcher achieved this by conducting an overarching review of the literature on exercise in older adults and analysing it under three systematic reviews that each focused on one condition that is commonly associated with aging—namely, frailty, depression, and cognitive impairment. The researcher also aimed to understand the types of physical activity (PA) that vulnerable older adults residing in supported living homes performed as part of their daily activities. To do this, the researcher objectively measured their activity levels, gathered information about how they perceived their activity, and identified factors that facilitated or hindered their participation in the activity. Methods. To synthesise relevant literature, the researcher performed a systematic search according to a protocol that was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews on 28 April 2020 (CRD42020173465) across five electronic databases: Medline, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus. Studies were considered for inclusion if they were published in the English language, used controlled designs, and focused on interventions that involved PE in individuals aged 65 years and older. The review was classified into three subcategories according to the health conditions of frailty, depression, and cognitive impairment. The review specifically emphasised health-related outcomes that encompassed physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning, as well as quality of life. Meta-analyses were conducted when data were available, or the data were presented narratively for all three systematic reviews. An observational study was also performed using a mixed-methods approach. A total of 35 older adults from four assisted living homes were enrolled in this study. Further, objective activity data derived from five consecutive days of accelerometer wear were collected, in addition to demographic information, standardised questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data extracted from interview transcripts were analysed using NVivo software to identify themes about the physical activity levels of older adults. Finally, quantitative data from the accelerometers and questionnaires underwent descriptive analysis, and associations between variables were explored. Results and discussion. The three systematic reviews of the existing literature support older adults engaging in physical activity to improve health-related outcomes regardless of their health status. However, the type of exercise and health benefits achieved differed according to the individual’s baseline health. The researcher identified that multi-component exercise that incorporated various elements of activity offered the greatest advantages in terms of potential health benefits in various health conditions. Similarly, Tai Chi was also beneficial across a spectrum of health-related outcomes. Notably, strength and aerobic exercises influenced health outcomes less strongly for healthy older adults and those with common disease conditions. Regarding the observational study findings, this thesis’s evaluation of older adults’ daily activity identified discrepancies in how these individuals perceived their activity levels and the actual activity they performed. When subjective reporting of activity was compared with accelerometer data, many residents who thought they were active were not, and vice versa. Further, this thesis found that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors influenced the actual level of PA. Additionally, individuals who were female and younger, who possessed a lower body mass index and independent mobility, and who did not have comorbidities or used support services such as cleaning were likely to be more active. Finally, the presence of a gym and the residence’s geographical location were factors that positively influenced PA levels. Conclusion. Despite PE’s recognised importance in addressing various health conditions in older adults and the national recommendations established for the level of exercise required to achieve these benefits, compliance with these guidelines remains suboptimal. This thesis thus summarises PE in numerous subgroups of the older adult population to demonstrate the types of exercise that are most likely to be beneficial and the benefits likely to be achieved with each type. This information can be used to tailor exercises to older adults’ unique health situations and to ensure that they reap the maximum benefit. Further, the incongruence between what older adults do and what they perceive they do likely affects the successful completion of adequate PA. Older adults should be encouraged to consider their environment, facilities, and geography when they move into supported living units, as this thesis has revealed how these factors critically help determine activity levels.
- Subject
- exercise; physical activity; older adults; Australia; thesis by publication
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1520170
- Identifier
- uon:57442
- Rights
- Copyright 2025 Samaher Mohammed Alowaydhah
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
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| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Thesis | 4 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Abstract | 408 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |