Let's Walk! Age Reattribution and Physical Activity Among Older Hispanic/Latino Adults: Results from the Caminemos' Randomized Trial

Background:Many older Hispanics/Latinos are sedentary and suffer from the harmful health consequences associated with prolonged periods of inactivity. Negative age attributions that equate getting older with “slowing down” reinforces sedentary behavior.  To increase walking levels among older Hispanics/Latinos and to maintain their activity over time, we implemented a multifaceted intervention ¡Caminemos! (Let’s walk!) which included an age attribution-retraining program for a randomly selected sample. 

Methods: We enrolled 571 older Hispanics/Latinos (≥60 years) in an exercise program with follow-up supports while also randomly assigning them to either: a) a treatment group – to receive an attribution-retraining program to dispel the idea physical activity declines with age or b) a control group – to received general health education. We collected data at baseline and follow-up (1-month, 12- month and 24 month) and compared longitudinal changes in objective and subjective measures of physical activity.  We used a digital pedometer to assess number of steps taken per week. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to determine the effects of exercise class and the attribution-retraining component on longitudinal changes in number of steps measured using the pedometer.

Results: Our sample reflected the demographics the aging Hispanic/Latino foreign-born population.  With a mean age of 73 years (SD=6.8), most were women (77% female).  They had low levels of income (84%<$20,000) and education (59.3%<8^thgrade). In analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, income and medical comorbidities,  participants in both intervention arms displayed higher number of steps at the 12-month follow-up (β=5149.23, p<0.0001 ) and at the 24 month (β=7561.5, p<0.0001) follow-up when compared to original baseline scores.  Participants assigned to intervention group consistently showed a greater improvement in pedometer steps than those assigned to control group, but this difference was only significant for the follow-up at 12-months (β=1038.0, p=0.053) and not at 24-months (β=791.2, p=0.162).

Conclusions: Overall, participants in both arms of the intervention benefitted from the exercise intervention. Those who received the attribution retraining intervention improved their physical activity (had a greater number of steps) compared to the control group but this improvement was not significant at the 24-month mark.  These finding suggests that while attribution-retaining program can have an effect on improving physical activity among seniors, this effect is less robust than actually having access to a structured exercise program.  Regardless of how one thinks about aging, the presence of an exercise program is a powerful antidote to a sedentary lifestyle for older Hispanics/Latinos.