Exercise Attitudes and Behaviors: A Survey of Adults Age 50-79 - Aarp

Section 5: Motivation for Exercising/Not Exercising
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Appendix A: Annotated Questionnaires
ASKED OF ANYONE IN SECTION 3 or 4 who say they DO exercise (n=770)
I’m going to read a list of benefits people say they get from exercise. For each,
please tell me whether you feel it is a major reason, a minor reason, or not really a
reason you exercising.
Major Reason Minor Reason Not Really a
Reason
Feeling good about yourself 71% 20% 8%
Feeling in control of your life 57% 28% 14%
Fighting aging 45% 34% 21%
Having fun 53% 31% 14%
Improving your overall health 82% 12% 5%
Increasing your energy level 69% 22% 8%
Increasing your fitness level 72% 20% 7%
Preventing disease 67% 23% 9%
Looking good 48% 36% 15%
Having better sex 28% 34% 33%
Socializing with other people 34% 38% 27%
Reducing stress 60% 27% 12%
Controlling my weight 60% 28% 12%
ASKED OF ANYONE IN SECTION 3 or 4 who say they DO NOT exercise (n=219)
I’m going to read you a list of reasons that people often give for not exercising.
Please tell me for each one, whether it is a major reason for you, a minor reason, or
not a reason for your not exercising. Would you say this is a major reason, a minor
reason, or not a reason…?
Major Reason Minor Reason Not Really a
Reason
You don’t have enough time 26% 25% 49%
You’re afraid of getting hurt 8% 19% 71%
Bad weather 19% 27% 53%
You have no place to walk 8% 21% 70%
You have no place to stop and
rest
9% 21% 69%
There is too much I have to
learn
6% 20% 70%
You feel self-conscious 13% 22% 64%
You feel tired or lacking energy 37% 34% 29%
You have health problems that 34% 24% 41%
interfere with exercise
You feel a class or gym
membership is too expensive
34% 14% 50%
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