Physical inactivity is one of the driving risk factors for developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (World Health Organization, 2003). The prevalence of these diseases increases with the aging process, which renders participation in physical activity crucial among the aging population. There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of these health disparities and disabilities (Young & Dinan, 2005), however despite these well-documented benefits, aging women still remain sedentary. This study examined the phenomenon of women 55 years of age or older and their lived experiences of participating in physical activity within a university of fitness and wellness center. An interview protocol was derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior (Blue, 1995). Interview data from three participants were transcribed and analyzed through open and axial coding and emergent themes following the Colaizzi Method (1978). The findings discovered three major themes: connecting with peers, diverse barriers to physical activity, and “expected” motivators and physical activity. One minor theme that emerged was consequences to “if I don’t”. For these women, the phenomenon of participating in physical activity is at once familiar and unexpected.
","abstract_html":"<p>Physical inactivity is one of the driving risk factors for developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (World Health Organization, 2003). The prevalence of these diseases increases with the aging process, which renders participation in physical activity crucial among the aging population. There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of these health disparities and disabilities (Young & Dinan, 2005), however despite these well-documented benefits, aging women still remain sedentary. This study examined the phenomenon of women 55 years of age or older and their lived experiences of participating in physical activity within a university of fitness and wellness center. An interview protocol was derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior (Blue, 1995). Interview data from three participants were transcribed and analyzed through open and axial coding and emergent themes following the Colaizzi Method (1978). The findings discovered three major themes: connecting with peers, diverse barriers to physical activity, and “expected” motivators and physical activity. One minor theme that emerged was consequences to “if I don’t”. For these women, the phenomenon of participating in physical activity is at once familiar and unexpected. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hobbs, Alexis"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:32Z","subjects":["Aging Women","Exercise","Physical Activity","Gerontology","Occupational Therapy"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2016 Alexis Hobbs"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/377","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hobbs, Alexis"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Aging Women","Exercise","Physical Activity","Gerontology","Occupational Therapy"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2016 Alexis Hobbs"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/377"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Physical inactivity is one of the driving risk factors for developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (World Health Organization, 2003). The prevalence of these diseases increases with the aging process, which renders participation in physical activity crucial among the aging population. There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of these health disparities and disabilities (Young & Dinan, 2005), however despite these well-documented benefits, aging women still remain sedentary. This study examined the phenomenon of women 55 years of age or older and their lived experiences of participating in physical activity within a university of fitness and wellness center. An interview protocol was derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior (Blue, 1995). Interview data from three participants were transcribed and analyzed through open and axial coding and emergent themes following the Colaizzi Method (1978). The findings discovered three major themes: connecting with peers, diverse barriers to physical activity, and “expected” motivators and physical activity. One minor theme that emerged was consequences to “if I don’t”. For these women, the phenomenon of participating in physical activity is at once familiar and unexpected.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Qualitative Pilot Study Of Aging Women’s Physical Activity Experiences In One University Fitness And Wellness Center"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Hobbs, Alexis"],"dc:description.abstract":["Physical inactivity is one of the driving risk factors for developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (World Health Organization, 2003). The prevalence of these diseases increases with the aging process, which renders participation in physical activity crucial among the aging population. There is strong evidence that physical activity reduces the risk of these health disparities and disabilities (Young & Dinan, 2005), however despite these well-documented benefits, aging women still remain sedentary. This study examined the phenomenon of women 55 years of age or older and their lived experiences of participating in physical activity within a university of fitness and wellness center. An interview protocol was derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior (Blue, 1995). Interview data from three participants were transcribed and analyzed through open and axial coding and emergent themes following the Colaizzi Method (1978). The findings discovered three major themes: connecting with peers, diverse barriers to physical activity, and “expected” motivators and physical activity. One minor theme that emerged was consequences to “if I don’t”. For these women, the phenomenon of participating in physical activity is at once familiar and unexpected.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/377"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2016 Alexis Hobbs"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Aging Women","Exercise","Physical Activity","Gerontology","Occupational Therapy"],"dc:title":["A Qualitative Pilot Study Of Aging Women’s Physical Activity Experiences In One University Fitness And Wellness Center"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:32Z"}