Citation

Duncan HH, Travis SS, McAuley WJ. Activ. Adapt. Aging 1995; 19(1): 37-52.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J016v19n01_03

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In recent years, walking in an enclosed mall has become the popular choice of many aging adults who enjoy the generally safe, inexpensive, and accessible features of malls. This study reports, however, that this type of health-promoting activity does not rely on the continuing influence of medical advice. Health promotion program planners should instead attend to the social constructs of the activity. Among other things, older mall walkers created roles and routines associated with their walking behavior that appeared to replace those lost upon retirement. Implications for the design and implementation of health promoting activities for older adults, and future research are discussed.