Physical activity in middle-aged men

Arthur C. Burgess

This study was a preliminary exploration of the incentives for involvement or avoidance of participation in sport and physical activity of fifty middle-class men over age twenty-five. This population was comprised of two test groups of twenty-five men who were judgementally selected on the basis of age, education and duration of participation or avoidance of sport and physical activity. A focused interview and rating scales with four written questionnaires were developed as evaluative instruments. These were used to test both groups as to their Childhood Sport and Physical Activity Environment perception of their own activity level, a personal evaluation of their own health and their secondary participation in sport. Additionally, the participant group were evaluated as to their incentives for starting and for continuing their activity while the non-participants were evaluated as to their attitudes to their possible future involvement and reasons for present non-involvement. The two groups were found to be significantly different (p > .05) in most of the areas in which differences were hypothesized. Viz., active men were found to have more favorable childhood environments, to be more physically active throughout their lives and to perceive themselves as being very active with excellent health. The non-active men were found to have less favorable childhood environments, to more frequently choose sedentary or quiet activities as recreations. The perception of their own health and their level of activity was significantly lower than the active men. The population fell into five attitude classifications ranging from actively positive to completely negative. Notable was the attitude disposition of the non-participants of whom fifty-six per cent were positively disposed to participation in sport and physical activity but yet who did not themselves participate. Typologies within both groups were developed. Three general types of active men were identified. On the basis of reasons for non-participation, five typologies of non-participants appeared. The effects of marriage and establishment in a profession on the participation habits of this group was discussed. On the basis of these findings, a number of promotional strategies were suggested.