Who's moving most?

recent findings show the more socially connected an older adult is, the more physically active he or she will likely be. 1,493 Jewish retirees (median age 70 to 74 years) residing in Israel for at least seven years were categorized in one of five social network types. Gender proved to be unrelated to physical activity in the sample.

38% of the overall sample engaged in some form of regular exercise (most often taking walks). Over 50% of those with the most diverse social ties exercised. By contrast, only 20% of those with largely family social contact exercised, as did those with the least ties to friends, neighbors and family.

Older adults with regular contact with children and neighbors exercised less than those with little neighbor contact but regular contact with children and friends.

The findings agree with a 1995 study in the U.S. by Wolinsky et al. which reported that older people with many non-kin-based social contacts are more physically active than those with few.

It's important to point out that this does not necessarily mean one should avoid kin-based social contacts, only that non-kin-based contacts are important. Secondary friendships outside the family could well be good sources of health-promoting information that might otherwise never reach older adults. It also can't be ruled out that adults who remain more physically active in the first place might be capable of maintaining more social ties due to their improved physical states.

(Journ. Aging & Phys. Activity, 2003, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 389-406)