Interpersonal Relationships and Physical Activity Across the Lifespan: A Qualitative Study with Older Adults

Research highlights the critical role of physical activity for older adults, who generally understand its importance for health maintenance. However, the influence of interpersonal relationships on physical activity requires further exploration. This study aimed to retrospectively examine older adults’ perceptions of their physical activity across four life stages (i.e., early life, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and older adulthood) and to assess how interpersonal relationships impacted their exercise at each stage. Nineteen older adults (8 men, 11 women) aged 60 and older, who reported engaging in physical activity for at least 30 min one to seven times per week, participated in this study. Data were collected through online surveys and in-depth interviews. Four themes were constructed through Coding Reliability Thematic Analysis: (a) physical activity trajectory over lifespan, (b) family of origin influence on physical activity, (c) chosen relationships as facilitators and barriers to physical activity, and (d) impact of parenting and grandparenting on physical activity. Participants perceived various interpersonal relationships influenced their physical activity through different mechanisms: modeling (e.g., parents), co-participation (e.g., siblings, romantic partners, children, grandchildren, friends), or observing health challenges related to inactivity experienced by close relations (e.g., parents, siblings, extended family) at different points in their lives.