Understanding regular exercise behavior in frail older adults: a structural equation model based on social-cognitive variables

作者：Shiqi Yu, Jie Lin, Siping Song, Shuqi Huang, Fan Liu, Mingzhao Xiao · 发表于：BMC Geriatrics · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12877-025-05702-5 · 被引用次数：10 · 研究领域：Physical Activity and Health、Frailty in Older Adults、Cardiovascular and exercise physiology

BACKGROUND: Regularly engaging in exercise has been recognized as the only therapy found to consistently manage frailty. This study applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to integrate the theoretical perspective of Social cognitive theory (SCT) to better understand and promote regular exercise behavior among frail older adults, providing a foundation for enhancing exercise engagement in this vulnerable population. METHODS: A total of 306 frail older adults in Chengdu, China, were selected in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the the FRAIL scale, the Self-Efficacy for Exercise (SEE) Scale, the behavioral regulation in exercise questionnaire (BREQ-2), the Outcome Expectations for Exercise (OEE), the Exercise Social Support (ESS) Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to specify hypothesis between components of social-cognitive theory on regular exercise behavior among frail seniors. RESULTS: The percentage of regular exercise behavior was 29.1% among participants. There were statistically significant differences in the regular exercise behavior for demographic characters of occupation, disposable monthly income, frail phenotype of fatigue, resistance and weight loss (p < 0.05). SEM showed that the exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.52, p < 0.001) and exercise outcome expectation (β = 0.45, p < 0.011) are the strongest determinants of regular exercise behavior, while social support (β = 0.092, p > 0.05) and self-regulation (β = 0.05, p > 0.05) are non...