Date
12-4-2025
Department
School of Health Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)
Chair
Keith Pelletier
Keywords
Sarcopenia, Aging, Muscle Loss, Exercise, Resistance Training, Nutrition
Disciplines
Health and Physical Education | Public Health
Recommended Citation
Jones, Alan Lynn, "The Impact of Education and Awareness in Influencing Lifestyle Behaviors that Prevent and Treat Sarcopenia in Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Research Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7711.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7711
Abstract
This mixed-methods, cross-sectional study assessed the current level of knowledge and awareness among people aged 50 and older about sarcopenia, as well as their willingness to adopt lifestyle changes that could prevent or reverse the condition as they age. The study aimed to determine whether a lack of awareness and knowledge is linked to current lifestyle behaviors that contribute to or protect against the development of the disease. The population included men and women 50 and older, living independently in the community with no prior diagnosis of sarcopenia. The study used a custom-designed questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. A total of 171 older adults completed the questionnaire, and 149 completed the interview. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics for each item and category of the questionnaire, assessments of questionnaire reliability and validity, sample size power analyses, tests for normality and linearity, simple linear regression with ANOVA, Spearman’s rank order correlation, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. Qualitative data analysis was carried out in three phases: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, following the constructivist grounded theory approach. The results suggest that most older adults are unaware of the adverse impact of sarcopenia on their longevity. The findings provide new insights into older adults' willingness to change their lifestyle behaviors once they understand the reasons and the steps necessary for effective change. Additionally, results show that older adults are willing to change their behavior when they receive accurate, trustworthy information from reliable sources. Future research should include other ethnic groups and healthcare providers in the USA, as well as longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of sarcopenia educational and intervention programs.
