Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study
Abstract Background This study qualitatively investigates retirement-age adults' perspectives on engaging in health behaviors such as physical activity or a healthy diet, distinguishing facilitators, barriers, goals, and motivations (the two later in line with Self-Determination Theory). Method...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21377-4 |
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| author | Paula Collazo-Castiñeira Rocío Rodríguez-Rey Gisela I. Delfino Alfonso J. Cruz-Jentoft Eva Topinková Peter J. M. Weijs Josje D. Schoufour Macarena Sánchez-Izquierdo |
| author_facet | Paula Collazo-Castiñeira Rocío Rodríguez-Rey Gisela I. Delfino Alfonso J. Cruz-Jentoft Eva Topinková Peter J. M. Weijs Josje D. Schoufour Macarena Sánchez-Izquierdo |
| author_sort | Paula Collazo-Castiñeira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study qualitatively investigates retirement-age adults' perspectives on engaging in health behaviors such as physical activity or a healthy diet, distinguishing facilitators, barriers, goals, and motivations (the two later in line with Self-Determination Theory). Methods Two clinical psychologists conducted four focus groups with Spanish adults around retirement age. We conducted inductive and deductive content analysis. Results The main facilitators and barriers identified were the presence and absence of social support/social network, mental health, willpower, time, and motivation. Participants reported different types of motivation (e.g., intrinsic motivation in the enjoyment of the activity of exercise or cooking) and goals (intrinsic and extrinsic); except for the goal of health management, which presented both types of motivation, participants regulated intrinsic goals autonomously, and extrinsic ones with controlled motivation. A process of internalizing the source of motivation was identified inductively by participants. Conclusions Facilitating social networks and addressing mental health issues could aid engagement in health behaviors among this population. Additionally, health management appeared as a significant goal, where autonomous motivation can develop even if the behavior initially arises from controlled motivation or external triggers, such as medical advice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-70d6ed81ac3e463ca2039c30916c5eca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-70d6ed81ac3e463ca2039c30916c5eca2025-02-02T12:46:29ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111410.1186/s12889-025-21377-4Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group studyPaula Collazo-Castiñeira0Rocío Rodríguez-Rey1Gisela I. Delfino2Alfonso J. Cruz-Jentoft3Eva Topinková4Peter J. M. Weijs5Josje D. Schoufour6Macarena Sánchez-Izquierdo7Department of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical UniversityServicio de Geriatría, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCISDepartment of Geriatrics and Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, Sport and Physical Activity, Amsterdam University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, Sport and Physical Activity, Amsterdam University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Psychology, Comillas Pontifical UniversityAbstract Background This study qualitatively investigates retirement-age adults' perspectives on engaging in health behaviors such as physical activity or a healthy diet, distinguishing facilitators, barriers, goals, and motivations (the two later in line with Self-Determination Theory). Methods Two clinical psychologists conducted four focus groups with Spanish adults around retirement age. We conducted inductive and deductive content analysis. Results The main facilitators and barriers identified were the presence and absence of social support/social network, mental health, willpower, time, and motivation. Participants reported different types of motivation (e.g., intrinsic motivation in the enjoyment of the activity of exercise or cooking) and goals (intrinsic and extrinsic); except for the goal of health management, which presented both types of motivation, participants regulated intrinsic goals autonomously, and extrinsic ones with controlled motivation. A process of internalizing the source of motivation was identified inductively by participants. Conclusions Facilitating social networks and addressing mental health issues could aid engagement in health behaviors among this population. Additionally, health management appeared as a significant goal, where autonomous motivation can develop even if the behavior initially arises from controlled motivation or external triggers, such as medical advice.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21377-4RetirementSelf-determination theoryMotivationFacilitatorsBarriersHealthy lifestyles |
| spellingShingle | Paula Collazo-Castiñeira Rocío Rodríguez-Rey Gisela I. Delfino Alfonso J. Cruz-Jentoft Eva Topinková Peter J. M. Weijs Josje D. Schoufour Macarena Sánchez-Izquierdo Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study BMC Public Health Retirement Self-determination theory Motivation Facilitators Barriers Healthy lifestyles |
| title | Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study |
| title_full | Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study |
| title_short | Exploring motivation, goals, facilitators, and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age: a focus group study |
| title_sort | exploring motivation goals facilitators and barriers to adopt health behaviors at retirement age a focus group study |
| topic | Retirement Self-determination theory Motivation Facilitators Barriers Healthy lifestyles |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21377-4 |
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