RESEARCH MORI Research into Physical Activity and Sport Participation of Older People in Ireland’
Key Findings and Recommendations from ‘Physical Activity and Sport – Participation and Attitudes of Older People in Ireland’ Research Report prepared by Ipsos MORI for the Go for Life Programme and the Irish Sports Council.
Participation
o Almost two fifths (39%) of the older population participate in sport and recreational physical activity.
o Older people typically participate in only one sport or physical activity (excluding walking). Only 6% participate in two or more sports or physical activities.
o The most popular activity, in terms of participation, is golf, which is played 11% of all older people.
o Only 59% of golfers participate at sufficient intensity, for it to be considered health-enhancing activity. Participating at a health-enhancing intensity in greater for those involved in other sports including swimming, dancing, cycling and aerobics.
o Overall, 28% of the total older population participate in at least one physical activity, to raise their breathing rate.
o 7 in every 10 older people engage in health enhancing walking. However, only 43% of those who walk do so with sufficient intensity for the activity to be considered health-enhancing, that is at a fast pace or a fairly brisk pace.
o Only 15% of older people in Ireland are ‘healthily active’, that is, engage in levels of physical activity ‘sufficient to derive health benefits’, which is defined as having carried out 30 minutes of at least moderate activity, including walking, on at least 5 days a week. For a majority of those who are healthily active, this is achieved through walking rather than sports participation.
o 58% per cent of older people in Ireland are classified as having a sedentary lifestyle, due to their low levels of physical activity.
Non-Participation
o The demographic profile of non-participants is the inverse of that of sports participants. A significantly higher proportion of those aged 65 and over (66%) than those aged 50-64 (58%) are non-participants.
o Those who are classified as non-participants are nonetheless relatively active, with 65% of non-participants engaging in walking.
o 42% of non-participants who walk do so with sufficient intensity for the activity to be considered health-enhancing, that is at a fast pace or a fairly brisk pace. This compares to 43% of participants.
o A majority of non-participants believe they do an adequate amount of exercise.
Attitudes & Opportunities
o One of the main perceived benefits of sport and physical activity, is that: “it is good for your physical health”, a view held by 82% of older people.
o 28% of older people identified one of the benefits as being “good for your mental health/self-esteem’, although this is significantly higher amongst sports participants. This may indicate that those who do not participate in sport or physical activity do not appreciate or are simply unaware of these social benefits, perhaps due to their non-participation.
o When asked about the downsides of exercise and physical activity, the most popular response, given by 60% of older people, was that “there are no real downsides”.
o 40% of older people agreed that they would like to participate in sport and/or other activities at a higher level than they are able to. This suggests that there is a latent appetite for increased physical activity among older people in Ireland.
o Overall, 57% of older people are very or fairly satisfied with facilities for physical activity or exercise for older people in their area. Satisfaction levels, however, are significantly higher in urban areas and lower in rural area.
o 18% of older people are aware of the Go for Life programme and 2% have participated in the programme.
Recommendations
o Future communications should underline the promotion of walking as a ‘healthily active’ pursuit and one that has ‘health-enhancing’ benefits to encourage ‘potentially active’ respondents to participate.
o Future communications should highlight the significance of the intensity and duration required for physical activity to be considered health-enhancing.
o Consideration should be given to developing physical activity programmes or outreach initiatives for older people who may lack the opportunity or ability to access current programmes.
o The government and other stakeholders, such as the Irish Sports Council, Department of Health & Children, Age & Opportunity commit to a target of increasing the proportion of older people in Ireland engaged in ‘healthily active’ levels of physical activity by 1.5% over the life of the Irish Sports Council’s current 2006-08 Building for Life strategy.