Abstract
Behavioral interventions for older adults can reduce difficulties in performing daily activities, hospitalizations, and mortality risk. The success of behavior change interventions, however, can be affected by a participant's readiness to adopt changes. This study evaluates whether socioeconomic conditions, particularly financial strain affording food, are associated with readiness to change. We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study of baseline data from disabled older adults ( N = 147) participating in an intervention to reduce physical disability. Readiness to change score was rated at the start of the intervention by interventionists as either pre-action (precontemplation = 1, contemplation = 2, preparation = 3) or action (=4). Participants reporting high financial strain affording food were more likely to have high readiness at the start of intervention; the association of this specific socioeconomic condition with readiness may be an important consideration in implementing interventions to reduce disability.