Promoting Successful Aging Through Competitive Sports Participation

Abstract

In this study we explored the experience of competing in the Senior Games and the resultant contributions to the successful aging of older adults. We used in-depth interviews with older adults who participated in the National Senior Games. Analysis of the data produced five central themes: (a) perseverance, (b) career development and significant effort, (c) personal and social benefits, (d) unique ethos, and (e) identification as a senior athlete. We found that participating in the Senior Games as a form of serious leisure enhanced the well-being of older adults and could be utilized as a means by which to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Are they ‘worth their weight in gold’? Sport for older adults: benefits and barriers of their participation for sporting organisations

“…Of the current research on the determinants of older adults participating in sport, these predominantly focus on specific sports that are recognised as traditional for older adults, such as bowls (Heuser, 2005) or golf (Cann et al, 2005, Siegenthaler andO'Dell, 2003) rather than sports in general. Further research has investigated mainly the intrapersonal determinants and partially interpersonal determinants of older adult sport participation (Litchfield and Dionigi, 2012, Dionigi, 2002, Heo et al, 2013a, Kolt et al, 2004. Whilst the intrapersonal determinants are an important consideration, to our knowledge there is no known research that investigates the determinants of participation in sport for older adults from an organisational and policy perspective and only limited research from the interpersonal perspective.…”

“…This paper focuses on the under-researched areas of interpersonal, organisational and policy domains, but acknowledges that the intrapersonal domain is also an influence that can contribute to older adult behaviour change. The influence of this domain on older adults has been widely researched, including elements of social gerontology such as the development of social identity (Heo et al, 2013b) or ageing identity (Dionigi, 2006) through sport, in addition to intrapersonal benefits and barriers that may influence older adults' sport participation, such as their physical health (Kolt et al, 2004) or to have fun (Heo et al, 2013a).…”

Envelhecimento saudável e atividade física: uma revisão sistemática sobre os efeitos do exercício nas doenças cardiovasculares

“…A condição cardiorrespiratória é um potente preditor da mortalidade em pacientes com DCV [5,9,17]. Assumindo que a cada dia mais pacientes buscam os benefícios da prática regular de atividades físicas e aderem a um estilo de vida mais saudável, estamos presenciando um aumento real dessa população em competições, principalmente nas corridas de média e longa distância [18,19]. Desta maneira devemos considerar o volume do exercício como o principal componente do treinamento físico relacionado ao tratamento em qualquer estágio da doença.…”

Exploring the Relationship Between Different Types of Serious Leisure and Successful Aging

“…In addition, regarding serious leisure activity, several researchers have emphasized the importance of socializing (Brown et al, 2008;Stebbins, 2001). Heo, Culp, Yamada, and Won (2013), for instance, noted that many participants in senior games pointed out social belonging and interactions as paramount to their experience. Furthermore, the participants demonstrated a pattern in which they became more serious in their leisure activities after they engaged with others from the interview.…”