Long-term maintenance of exercise, self-efficacy, and physiological change in older adults

Sedentary older adults who had completed a five-month exercise program were assessed nine months later for physiological change, continuing participation in exercise programs and self-assessments of physical ability and participation (self-efficacy). Compliers and non-compliers differed in continuing participation, aerobic strength and self-efficacy ratings. While initial assessments revealed large declines in both participation and self-efficacy ratings, expectations of efficacy taken after a set of physical tests increased significantly.