Effects of motivational interviewing on levels of physical activity in older adults

In Canada, 68% of women and 53% of men 65 and older are inactive. Physical activity is crucial for older adults being able to maintain physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Even the frail, chronically ill, and very old adults can increase mobility and functioning through physical activity. The current study examined the effects of Motivational Interviewing (MI) on levels of physical activity in older adults. A total of 86 participants aged 55 and older were recruited in Prince Edward Island. Participants were randomly assigned by gender to the intervention plus information or to an information only condition. Participants in the intervention condition participated in four weekly telephone motivational interviews focused on physical activity. All participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and six month follow-up. Results from this study found that the participants in the motivational interview condition had significantly higher levels of frequency of physical activity and total weekly caloric expenditure from physical activity at post-treatment than participants in the control group. The treatment effects were not maintained at six-month follow-up; however, there was a protective factor of the intervention in that participants in the MI condition returned to baseline levels of physical activity at six-month follow-up while participants in the control condition reported significant decreases in levels of physical activity from baseline to six-month follow-up. These findings support the use of motivational interviewing as a cost-effective technique for increasing levels of physical activity in older adults over the short term. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)