Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for older women, yet, many older women are physically inactive. One way to motivate older women to become physically active is through physically active identity development. This study tested an intervention to see if physically active identity development could be facilitated, and if a facilitated physically active identity resulted in increased PA. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design was used with a convenience sample of 43 older women. Data analyses compared those who completed the study versus those who did not complete the study and those assigned to the intervention versus the attention-control group. Those who did not complete the study (N=22) had significantly higher walking frequency (p=.023) and significantly lower duration of sitting (p=.000). Among those who participated in the intervention (N=12) or attention-control (N=9) activities, there were no significant differences in physically active identities or PA at the end of the nine-week study period. Therefore, the study's two hypotheses were not supported. Significant associations were noted between physically active identity measures and health status (p=.039), ego-resiliency (p=.040, p=.016), general fear of performing PA (p=.024), and access to PA (p=.017). Limitations of the study include the high risk of error in the statistical conclusions due to low statistical power, the limitations of the sample, limitations of the intervention itself, and the failure to track subjects longitudinally. Implications for nursing education, practice, and research are discussed. Recommendations for future studies were suggested.

A descriptive study was conducted to determine the level of self-esteem in elderly women in two different settings, the community and the nursing home, and if there was a difference in the level of self-esteem between the groups. The relationship between self-esteem and the intervening variables of loss, health, role fulfillment, social support, and control was examined. Thirty subjects, aged 69 to 92 years, participated in the study, 15 from the community and 15 from a nursing home. The questionnaire focused on demographic data, intervening variables scales, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to determine the level of self-esteem. The data revealed no significant difference of self-esteem between the two groups (p = 0.46). Community subjects showed a significant relationship between self-esteem and financial status (p = 0.001). Nursing home subjects showed significant relationships between self-esteem and age (p = 0.05), self-health (p = 0.004), compared health (p = 0.04), and control (p = 0.001).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 232 p. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2005 Aug. 17.

Thesis (M.A.)--Acadia University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-117). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Carleton University, 1993. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Older women are a rapidly growing sector of the Canadian population and will number about 4 million by the year 2031. They are also a group which must be recognized as being at risk in later life for reasons often beyond their control or comprehension. Elderly women experience higher levels of poverty, institutionalization and criminal victimization than older men. While many of the vicissitudes of old age are unavoidable, aging is much more problematic for women due to socially constructed inequities rooted historically in cultural patterns of age and gender relations. Consequently, women's economic, social and personal resources are more vulnerable in old age because of gender limitations experienced across their entire life course. Educational opportunities have not kept pace with the challenges encountered by women as they age nor has there been adequate educational programming to help older women negotiate the many changes in society that directly affect the quality of their personal lives. Yet education is considered to be a major strategy for developing and strengthening resources in later life and to be an effective means for promoting individual and collective empowerment among older women for improving their economic and social prospects as they age. By grounding educational objectives in a resource development paradigm, efforts can be made to enhance individual resources and to promote changes in the social relations of power, privileges and opportunities upon which current access and allocation of resources are based. Educational programming aimed at resource development falls into three categories: fostering political and social identity, facilitating economic equity, and aiding in later life transitions. Based on this approach to educational needs analysis, several program and policy recommendations are developed. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

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The nutritional status of forty-five women aged 71 to 89 years, who met defined health criteria, was assessed by an analysis of three-day diet records and anthropometric measurements. Subjects were grouped, according to the average caloric intake at home <75%> of daily intake to reflect the dependency of the subjects. Subjects were also divided into seven groups according to the site from which they were recruited.For the total population, there was no correlation between calorie intake per day and age, and there were negative correlations between age and all of the measures of body composition. In addition, a higher intake of calories per kg was negatively correlated with weight, suggesting that the heavier subjects had proportionately lower levels of caloric intake per kg of body weight.There were no significant differences in the risk for protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) among the healthy elderly women who were subjects of this study as measured by an analysis of their dietary intake and anthropometric status, and based upon their dependency on others for <_75%> of their average daily caloric intake. It is concluded that for this population, source of food at home or away, as an indication of dependency, did not significantly affect nutritional status.When grouped according to the site from which they were reecruited, subjects in two of the groups were found to have the potential for malnutrition. Subjects in one of the groups had poor intakes of vitamins and minerals, but adequate body fat and somatic protein stores, and were not at risk for PCM. However, subjects in the other group appeared to have good diets and adequate fat mass, but very low muscle protein stores, and were at significant risk for PCM.The role of socioeconomic factors were minimal in this population as the two groups found to be at greatest risk were those observed to be near opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Therefore, it is concluded that upper income elderly are as much at risk for PCM as those in lower income groups, and that women in upper socioeconomic groups must be assessed for risk for PCM.It is apparent that the nutritional needs of most of the healthy elderly women in the study were being met. For those groups found to be potentially at risk, there was a possibility that they may not have been as healthy as was indicated, suggesting that risk for PCM is more a function of poor health which results in associated dependency. / Department of Home Economics

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.