Identifying Design Opportunities for Behavior Displacement for Intervening Sedentary Time among Older Adults

Prolonged sedentary behavior poses significant health risks, calling for interventions that promote active lifestyles. For older adults, every physical activity, no matter how small or significant, plays a vital role in their quality of life. However, many interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior have overlooked the unique needs and preferences of older adults. In this study, we explore design opportunities for supporting behavior displacement---replacing sedentary time with active movements---as a potential strategy for intervening sedentary time among older adults. Through a 7-day diary study and interviews with 13 participants, we uncovered key factors, such as attention demand, productivity and quality of activities, physical fatigue, as well as social norms, that influence their decisions to engage in displacement. We also identified sequential and concurrent displacement strategies and the contexts in which each was employed. Our findings highlight the need for designing personalized, adaptive interventions that respect the diverse preferences and agency of older adults.