An increasing elderly population will not only affect the families of the elderly, but also the nation as a whole. The following research aims to explore the contributing factors of the selection process regarding the elderly when choosing a park to exercise or perform physical activities. The research will show that one of the main reasons why the elderly choose to visit a public park for exercise or to carry out their physical activities is because they want to be healthy, live longer and get fresh air while doing so.
Factors influencing older people to do physical activities in the parks, including health problems, psychological concerns, location, accompaniment and activities. Currently, Thailand is one of the top middle-income countries (World Bank List of Economies, July 2016). Along with China, Thailand already has a higher than average proportion of older people than any developing country in East Asia and the Pacific.
By 2018, for the first time in history, the number of young people will exceed the number of elderly people. The number and proportion of the elderly population in Thailand is growing rapidly (FOPDEV, 2015).
Statement of Problem
At the same time, public parks should provide special facilities for the elderly to support activities in the parks. This is not only the responsibility of the government, but the private sector is also important to encourage older people to exercise in public parks. In Thailand, many organizations such as the Ministry of Health (MoPH) and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) are an important department for the elderly.
Research Questions
Objectives of the Study
Scope of the Study
Significance of the Study
LITERATURE REVIEW
- Theoretical Foundation
- Elderly People
- History and Background of the Elderly People
- Physical Activities
- Elderly People and Physical Activities
- Physical Activity and Older Adults (WHO, 2015)
- Public Parks
- Factors Affecting Aging Persons Decide to Exercise in Public Parks
- Being healthy/physical benefits
- Psychological Benefits
- Factors Interrupting Elderly People to Exercise in Public Park
- Transportation
- Location
- Individual factors
- Companion
- Facilities
- Framework of Study
Physical activity (PA) is defined as any body movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Regular physical activity of moderate intensity – such as walking, cycling or playing sports – has significant health benefits. In addition, an adequate level of physical activity will reduce the risk of hip or vertebral fracture and help control weight (WHO, 2017).
Exercise is a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and purposeful in the sense that the goal is to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness. Physical activity includes exercise and other activities that involve body movement and are performed as part of play, work, active transportation, housework, and recreation. For adults aged 65 and over, physical activity includes leisure-time physical activity (for example: walking, dancing, gardening, hiking, swimming), transport (for example, walking or cycling), occupational (if the individual is still employed), housework , games, games, sports or planned exercise as part of daily, family and community activities.
Physical activity can be performed in a variety of community settings, such as local parks, which are often accessible to citizens at little or no cost (Bedimo-Rung et al, 2005). The health benefits derived from physical activity in parks and other important benefits of park use should be recognized (Bedimo-Rung et al, 2005). Figure 2.2 highlights the potential relationships between the environmental characteristics of parks, park attendance, physical activity in parks and physical health benefits (see the shaded boxes of the model).
The lower part of the model shows antecedents or correlates of park use (the factors that influence the frequency of use and non-use). Once individuals are in the park, the “physical activity in the park” box describes the level of activity they are engaged in, whether it is sedentary, moderate, or vigorous. These include physical health benefits from physical activity, such as a lower risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes; psychological health benefits such as stress reduction; social benefits such as increased social capital; as well as economic and environmental benefits that can benefit society as a result of the park's existence in a community (Bedimo-Rung et al, 2000).
Neighborhood open spaces have been shown to promote people's health by supporting physical activity such as walking (Pikora et al., 2002). Godbey and Blazey (1983) examined the leisure behavior of older adults (55 and older) who participated primarily in light to moderate physical activity in urban parks. Accessibility limitations, including not having transportation, not being able to afford it (financial issue) or transportation taking time are factors of older adults commuting and participating in physical activity outside of their location.
Older individuals reported individual/psychological problems, including feeling tired, not having confidence in skills, being afraid of getting injured and not being fit, as the main limitations to their participation in physical activity in the park. The framework for this study was adapted from the model of the relationship between parks and physical activity (Bedimo-Rung et al, 2005).
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- Research Approach and Design
- Data Collection
- Data Procedure
- Demographic Data Analysis
- Factors Affecting Elderly People to Perform Physical Activities in Public Park
- Health concerns
A closed question is asked for the scoring of the activities in order to get a precise result about which are the most attractive and unattractive activities. Finally, the third part is for the interviewer to express their feeling for the park and recommendation. To find the answer of the most attractive activity for the elderly, Likert scale was used for this question.
Rating for Attractiveness was used in Table 4 for the interviewees to rate their attitude towards each activity. What do you think of the facilities around the park such as toilet, drinking water, light, safety, cleanliness, park hours and etc. Where you exercise in the public park, you expect to get healthy or not.
The original scale of this type was developed by Rensis Likert and is explained in his article "A Technique for Measuring Attitudes" in Achieves of Psychology (1932). A weighted mean was used to measure the overall response of the sample respondents, regardless of whether they agreed with a given statement or not. In addition, the audio recording of the interviews was used as an interview aid tool.
It provides an accurate summary of the interview as all responses were recorded during the interview. Most people who come to parks are aware of the benefits because of their academic background. Eight of those who have completed high school are also well aware of the health benefits the park offers.
Of course, health conditions, chronic diseases (non-infectious diseases) are generally showing a direct connection with the elderly up to 96.67% of the respondents. The primary reasons for doing physical activity in a public park are the health benefits (physical health). The majority of respondents with 90%, healthy posture dominates the motivation of the elderly when it comes to exercise, while only 7% aim to prolong life and will take measures to achieve this goal.
Health Concerns
Psychological benefits
At the same time, all interviewees mentioned the added benefit of visiting the park: getting together with friends, sharing experiences and relieving stress by seeing people around (Sa-Bay-Jai). When they come to the park, they have activities to do such as walking around the park with friends, having fun, improving interpersonal relationships and social interaction.
Location
Transportation
Companion
Up to 27 park users (90%) stated that they usually come with friends or sometimes with family. If they have to come alone, they prefer not to come because of the feeling of loneliness and danger. Companions play an important role in persuading seniors to get out of their homes and into public parks.
Companion
- Activities
- Factors Interrupting Elderly People to Perform Physical Activities in Public Park
- Individual health problem
- Individual reasons
- Weather
- Attractive and Unattractive Activities in Public Park for Elderly Persons
- Discussions
The main reasons that the elderly are likely to walk in the public park is because the public park provides a large space and good environment while walking or doing other activities. During the weekend or at the end of the day, there are many people in the park. As shown in Table 4.2, health problem is the most influential reason for the limitations perceived by the elderly in physical activities in the public park in Bangkok.
This can be a barrier for the elderly to exercise at the public park as a regular routine. For the weather, rain is an uncontrollable factor that deters the elderly from showing up in the public park. In the summer, park users can reach the park and exercise regularly without any excuse.
Twenty-eight respondents rated walking around the park 5 out of 5 as good physical activity. As for the twenty interviewees who rated resting as the most attractive activity, this is mostly because they are already tired from the walk to get to the park and then they chose to enjoy the fresh air and socialize traffic. From the statistics, it is clear to summarize that most of the elderly like to visit park for jogging, walking or running and rest.
The peaceful and clean atmosphere appeals to older people to get more comfortable exercise. According to figure 2.3 the framework of the study, factors that influence the elderly to perform physical activities in public park have been revealed. Most of the respondents also mentioned that they feel safe and enjoy with their friends, acquaintances and family members when they visit the park.
Recreational activities such as walking, running and jogging are the most common physical activity in the parks, with these three parks offering a walkway, running track and bike track. Most of the respondents stated that the joint pain occurs if the pedal boat is also in the water, for fear of sinking. Then, word of mouth and direct invitation of their friends or family becomes an essential influence to bring more seniors to be concerned about being healthy by using the public park to perform physical activity regularly.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
Recommendation
Limitation
The role of park proximity and social support in shaping park visitation, physical activity, and perceived health among older adults. Park use, social environment and psychosocial benefits of park use reported by older urban park users from four ethical groups.
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Questionnaire (English)
Appendix B: Questionnaire (Thai)
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