Citation

Thornton JE, Collins JB. Activ. Adapt. Aging 1986; 8(2): 5-27.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J016v08n02_02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Patterns of and reasons for leisure and physical activity among older adults are more complex than existing research suggests. An exploratory field study used nine instruments in an interview battery to characterize these patterns and the attitudes and reasons older adults give for their activities. This article reports the patterns of leisure and physical activities of 119 older adults in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada and the reasons given for selecting these activities. Guidelines and recommendations are proposed that suggest the need for incorporating physical movement, thinking and feelings in both leisure and physical activity programs for older adults.