Cross-cultural considerations when motivating
older adults to engage in physical activity: do
adaptations need to be made in existing theories
to maximize their effectiveness in multi-ethnic
societies?
Professor Joan Duda School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Points to Make
Why theory?
Which theories …and when to integrate
Measurement considerations
Multi-methods a necessity
Promoting involvement and ownership
Weave in…what we have done/are doing
in our PA promotion work
An interesting challenge – analysing cross
cultural data…how do we incorporate ‘culture’?
Why Theory?
• Guidelines/strategies for designing
interventions: What should contribute to
sustained PA/reduced ST in older adults?
• Ways of testing the fidelity of the intervention
What theory should provide
Regarding PA/ST intervention trials,
motivational/behavioural change processes
predicting differential adherence to/attrition
in the intervention
What theory should provide
Elucidates processes (the how) by which interventions targeting environmental or individual difference factors may impact targeted outcomes; Are observed behavioural changes mediated by motivational processes proposed by theory?
MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE
OUTCOMES
MOTIVATIONAL PROCESSES (Theory-based)
What theory should provide
• Sub-groups analyses – effective for whom,
when, where?
What theory should provide
• What to measure (outcomes, processes,
potential moderators) and how?
What theory should provide
Which Theory?
Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000)
Social
Contextual
Factors
Relatedness
Competence
Autonomy
M
O
T
I
V
A
T
I
O
N
OUTCOMES
• affective
• behavioral
• cognitive
SELF-
DETERMINED
CONTROLLED
INTEGRATION makes
conceptual sense?
AGT
AGT
SDT
SDT
INTEGRATION doesn’t make
conceptual sense!
Measurement Issues
• Translation… backwards, forwards
• Many types of equivalence to demonstrate
• Was the measure developed for this
particular population? – if no, start from
scratch or revise as needed and
demonstrate validity and reliability
• ‘Think aloud’ method
• Statistical tests of measurement invariance
INVARIANCE IN OUR
MEASURES
Necessity of Multi-Methods
Main Trial Beginning of season
End of season
Beginning of next season
4 weeks after workshop
Needs Analysis
Promoting Involvement and
Ownership
Interesting Challenge – testing ‘cultural
differences’ in our behavioural change
trials
Thanks for your attention…look
forward to further discussions
on this important topic!
