ArticleThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2017
The role of sports clubs in helping older people to stay active and prevent frailty: a longitudinal mediation analysis.
Article in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Correlates and determinants of physical activity among older adults of lower versus higher socio-economic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Pooled it
- Deciphering causality between social/physical activity and suicide attempt: evidence from Mendelian randomization.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2025Article
- Using women-only fitness club and functional disability: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
- The Relationship Between Sports Club Participation, Physical Activity, and Health Behaviors Among Older Korean Adults.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Older adults' and service providers' experiences of a settings-based health promotion initiative in English football.Health promotion international · 2023Article
- Leisure Activities, Genetic Risk, and Frailty: Evidence from the Chinese Adults Aged 80 Years or Older.Gerontology · 2023Article
- Article
- Are Gyms a Feasible Setting for Exercise Training Interventions in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors? An Italian 10-Years Cross-Sectional Survey Comparison.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Predict the exercise behavior intention of the older adults in Taipei City to promote exercise behavior.Science progress · 2021Article
- Comparative analysis of reported physical activity from leisure centres' members versus the general population in Spain.BMJ open · 2021Article
- Social engagement and physical frailty in later life: does marital status matter?BMC geriatrics · 2021Article
- Short-Term and Medium-Term Impact of Retirement on Sport Activity, Self-Reported Health, and Social Activity of Women and Men in Poland.BioMed research international · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFrailty is a common syndrome in older adults characterised by increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes as a result of decline in functional and physiological measures. Frailty predicts a range of poor health and social outcomes and is associated with increased risk of hospital admission. The health benefits of sport and physical activity and the health risks of inactivity are well known. However, less is known about the role of sports clubs and physical activity in preventing and managing frailty in older adults. The objective of this study is to examine the role of membership of sports clubs in promoting physical activity and reducing levels of frailty in older adults.
methodsWe used data from waves 1 to 7 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Survey items on physical activity were combined to produce a measure of moderate or vigorous physical activity for each wave. Frailty was measured using an index of accumulated deficits. A total of sixty deficits, including symptoms, disabilities and diseases were recorded through self-report and tests. Direct and indirect relationships between sports club membership, levels of physical activity and frailty were examined using a cross-lagged panel model.
resultsWe found evidence for an indirect relationship between sports club membership and frailty, mediated by physical activity. This finding was observed when examining time-specific indirect pathways and the total of all indirect pathways across seven waves of survey data (Est = -0.097 [95% CI = -0.124,-0.070], p = <0.001).
conclusionsThese analyses provide evidence to suggest that sports clubs may be useful in preventing and managing frailty in older adults, both directly and indirectly through increased physical activity levels. Sports clubs accessible to older people may improve health in this demographic by increasing activity levels and reducing frailty and associated comorbidities. There is a need for investment in these organisations to provide opportunities for older people to achieve the levels of physical activity necessary to prevent health problems associated with inactivity.
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