Date of Award

1981

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Arlene Taich

Second Advisor

Dorothy Edwards

Abstract

Three objectives were focused upon regarding the potential of holistically designed fitness programs to facilitate optimal aging. The first objective involved a review of the pertinent literature, revealing a small body of research concerning fitness programs which incorporate physical, psychological, and social components. However, very little documentation of measured effects of these programs was discovered within the literature.

The second objective was description of a current study which involved older persons who participated in two varieties of fitness programs, conventional and holistic. A small group of older persons who did not participate in any fitness program was used as a "control" group. A survey questionnaire was used to test fitness subjects before and after participation in the program. A high rate of subject loss resulted in only a small number of the original group of subjects remaining through the completion of the study. Analysis of the data was thus limited to methods of content analysis and description. Expectations of relationships rather than hypotheses were stated since statistical analyses were not performed.

It was anticipated that fitness program participation would be a viable means for facilitating adjustment to and successful aging. It was additionally expected

that an holistic approach would be superior to a conventional exercise program for meeting the needs of later life. Findings indicated that differences occurred among subjects regarding test parameters: "Physical Health Status"; "Perceived Health"; "Attitude toward Fitness and Group Activity"; "Life Satisfaction" and "Fitness Status--Past and Present." Fitness subjects scored higher than non-exercise subjects ("controls") on all of these parameters. More holistic program subjects scored high on psycho-social parameters ("Attitude toward Fitness and Group Activity", ''Life Satisfaction", and "Fitness Status--Past and Present") at the onset of the study. More conventional subjects scored high on physical health parameters ("Physical Health Status", "Perceived Health") at the onset of the study. Additional differences were observed among subjects who attended the fitness program regularly, sporadically, or who dropped out. Test score ranges did not change over the course of the study for most fitness participants. However, holistic program subjects were more likely than conventional program subjects to demonstrate changed scores. Most subjects reported they had benefited both physically and psychologically from participation in the fitness program. Holistic program subjects were more likely to highly rate the program and report deriving psychological benefits.

Findings of this study suggest that participation in this program did not have a negative effect upon subjects. The program also appeared to have had a more positive impact upon holistic group subjects. The strength of these relationships is weakened, however, by the small number of subjects in the sample size. Inconsistencies found within the data were also interpreted to result from the small sample size.

The third objective was to construct a model of holistic fitness program design based upon the literature cited and findings of the study described above. This model highlighted the needs of older adults and program elements to satisfy these needs.

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