Exploring Older Adult’s Views of the Age-Inclusivity of Physical Activity Websites Using the Think Aloud Method: Qualitative Analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how older adults perceive the inclusivity of physical activity websites and identifies barriers they face in engaging with these resources.

Contribution

The study introduces a qualitative analysis of older adults' navigation and perceptions of physical activity websites using the think-aloud method.

Findings

Older adults prefer websites with inclusive imagery of age, body shape, and physical ability.

Many older adults dislike gyms due to their young user base and focus on aesthetics over health.

Participants often seek in-person interactions to confirm their welcome and the suitability of activities.

Abstract

Older adults are the least active in our society and may face additional barriers to taking part in physical activity compared with those experienced by younger people because of factors such as lower digital literacy and negative stereotypes of aging.

This study aimed to explore how older adults navigate websites that provide access to physical activity opportunities and facilities and make judgments about their suitability.

Semistructured interviews were embedded within a think-aloud approach. Participants were shown a series of websites and asked to navigate through the websites as if they were going to take up what was on offer, articulating their thoughts and comments out loud as they progressed. Participants viewed up to 4 websites, rotated from a pool of 8, including leisure centers, exercise products, gyms, or community organizations. Additional questions were asked about perceptions of the inclusivity of the websites at the end of the interview. Digital recordings were made and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Nineteen participants (6 male and 13 female) aged between 65 and 84 years were recruited from southern England; one-third reported having poor digital ability prior to taking part. Three overarching themes relating to the research question were identified as follows: (1) signals of age-inclusivity, (2) limiting beliefs, and (3) confidence in making judgments. Older adults inferred a lot of information about how welcome they would be in physical activity settings from the images and language used on websites. They showed a preference for imagery that was inclusive of age, body shape, and physical ability, not only for those depicting older adults themselves. Some adults reported firm views about the type and intensity of physical activity that is appropriate for older adults, and many expressed a specific dislike of gyms, based on both the (young) age of most users and perceived emphasis towards aesthetic rather than health-related exercise. While most participants could navigate websites successfully, they preferred to visit venues and speak to staff to gain greater confidence that they would feel welcome and that the activities would be at a suitable level.

Websites providing access to physical activity could be more inclusive of older adults by using more diverse imagery, providing clearer descriptions of the activities on offer, along with details of the level of fitness or ability needed to take part, and providing alternatives to web-based booking. Additional societal-level approaches to reducing age-limiting self-stereotyping may also be useful in expanding the opportunities for older adults to access mainstream provisions for physical activity.