Underpinned by Bandura’s social-cognitive theory (SCT), this thesis examined the perceptions of physical activity (PA) in healthy and unhealthy older adults, and examined imagery as a potential strategy to promote PA. Focus groups with healthy older adults (Chapter 2) and those diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Chapter 3) examined how PA is incorporated into daily living, and the unique barriers and enablers of PA in older adults. The subsequent chapters focus on the role of imagery as a strategy to increase PA. Using the revised applied model of deliberate imagery use as a framework, Chapter 4 explored where, when, what, and why older adults image PA. Based on Chapter 2 and 3’s finding that older adults use a range of imagery types and functions, and the importance of self-regulation, Chapter 5 investigated how self-regulatory imagery (i.e., images of goals and planning) related with social-cognitive variables, enjoyment, and PA. Overall, the thesis recognises the importance of SCT in explaining the unique challenges older adults face in relation to PA while accounting for contextual factors including PA level, disease severity, and employment status. The thesis also demonstrates imagery as a potential strategy for promoting PA in older adults
