TABLE 2.
Physical Activity Before (Work and Non-work) and After Retirement Among Participants (N = 15)
| Study ID |
Age | Walk Score®a |
Pre-retirement physical activityb | Post-retirementb physical activity |
Self-perceived Impact of retirementc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work | Non-work | |||||
| 1 | 62 | 7 | Standing, walking (light activity) | Walking (occasional), stationary bike | Walking, stationary bike (occasional) | ↓ physical activity, ↑ sedentary behavior due to loss of work activity and not leaving home |
| 2 | 63 | 44 | Standing, walking, lifting (moderate activity) | None | None | ↓ physical activity, ↑ sedentary behavior due to loss of work activity, and increased time/energy for TV/computer |
| 3 | 72 | 42 | Standing, walking (light activity) | Water aerobics | Walking, dancing (occasional) | ↓ physical activity, ↑ sedentary behavior due to loss of work activity and not leaving home |
| 4 | 62 | 57 | Standing, walking, lifting, carrying (moderate activity) | None | Walking for transportation | ↓ physical activity, ↑ sedentary behavior due to loss of work activity and ill-health |
| 5 | 68 | 46 | Walking (light activity) | Walking (dogs) | Walking (dogs), gardening, light swimming (summer) | ↓ physical activity, ↑ sedentary behavior because caring for parents (mostly sedentary) replaced work activity |
| 6 | 69 | 1 | Standing, walking, lifting, carrying (moderate activity) | None | None | ↓ physical activity, ↑ sedentary behavior due to loss of work activity, and increased time/energy for TV/computer |
| 7 | 70 | 6 | Standing, walking (light activity) | Walking | Walking, gardening, gym (occasional) | ↑ physical activity, ↓ sedentary behavior due to increased time/less stress and no longer required to sit at work |
| 8 | 71 | 3 | Sedentary | None | None | No change |
| 9 | 70 | 13 | Sedentary | None | None | ↑ physical activity, ↓ sedentary behavior because always “on the go,” more energy |
| 10 | 72 | 4 | Sedentary | Line dancing, walking (dog) | Walking, water aerobics, Zumba | ↑ physical activity, ↓ sedentary behavior replaced sedentary work with physical activities due to increased time/energy |
| 11 | 71 | 47 | Sedentary | Exercise classes (occasional) | Yoga, cardio class, T’ai Chi, gardening, walking for transportation, biking (occasional) | ↑ physical activity,↓ sedentary behavior due to increased free time and no longer required to sit at work |
| 12 | 68 | 30 | Sedentary | None | None | ↑ physical activity, ↓ sedentary behavior because “on the go” for organizations and no longer required to sit at work |
| 13 | 71 | 10 | Sedentary | Walking (dogs), treadmill | Walking (dogs), exercise class, water aerobics | No change: ↓ physical activity when retired concurrent with remarriage, then ↑ physical activity when widowed 15 months later; ↓ sedentary behavior after retirement because no longer required to sit at work |
| 14 | 69 | 9 | Sedentary | Aerobics (occasional) | Water aerobics (regularly) | Physical activity ↑ briefly after retirement then ↓ when began caring for parents; ↓ sedentary behavior because no longer required to sit at work |
| 15 | 67 | 21 | Sedentary | Aerobics | Walking, yoga, aerobics | ↓ physical activity, ↓ sedentary behavior because caring for parents limited ability to attend exercise classes, but no longer required to sit at work |
Walk Score® from www.WalkScore.com based on participant home address. Neighborhoods with a Walk Score® 0-49 are car dependent (most errands require a car), 50-69 are somewhat walkable (some errands can be accomplished on foot), 70-89 are very walkable (most errands can be accomplished on foot), and 90-100 are ‘walker’s paradise’ (daily errands do not require a car).
Pre- and post-retirement physical activities reported by participants during the qualitative interview and on the self-reported physical activity questionnaire
Participants’ self-perception during the interview of the extent to which their physical activity and sedentary behavior changed after retirement and what accounted for the change.