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Determinants of Engagement in Leisure-time Physical Activity – Dialogue with Senior Athletes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2016

Naoko Yamada  and
Jinmoo Heo
Naoko Yamada
Affiliation:
Antalya International University
Jinmoo Heo*
Affiliation:
Yonsei University
*
*La correspondance et les demandes de tire-à-part doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Jinmoo Heo Department of Sport and Leisure Studies Yonsei University 324 Sport Science Building 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu Seoul, 03722, Korea (heoj@yonsei.ac.kr)
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Abstract

This article explores the factors determining whether older adults engage in the Senior Games and related leisure-time physical activity through examining the adults’ salient beliefs. We conducted 10 in-depth interviews with older adults who have participated in the Senior Games. Underpinned by the planned behavior theory’s framework, we explored three types of beliefs: advantages and disadvantages (behavioral beliefs), social support and pressure (normative beliefs), and facilitators and impediments (control beliefs). Interview respondents were found to engage in the Senior Games and related physical activity to the extent that they associated various intangible advantages with the games and valued psychological satisfaction. They viewed their peers and families as supporting and approving of their engagement and recognized the physical capabilities required, and structural constraints necessary, to engage in the games and related activity. With these findings, pertinent beliefs can be combined with interventions designed to encourage leisure-time physical activities by older adults.

Résumé

Cet article explore, en examinant leurs croyances saillants, les facteurs qui déterminent si les personnes âgées participent aux Jeux des aînés et de l’activité physique durant les loisirs connexes. Nous avons mené 10 entrevues en profondeur avec des personnes âgées qui ont participé aux Jeux des aînés. Nous avons exploré trois types de croyance sous-tendus par le cadre théorique de comportement prévu: les avantages et les inconvénients (croyances comportementales), le soutien social et la pression (croyances normatives), et les facilitateurs et les obstacles (croyances de contrôle). Les répondants aux entrevues se sont trouvés à s’engager aux Jeux des aînés et à l’activité physique dans la mesure où ils ont associé divers avantages intangibles avec les Jeux et en ont valorisé la satisfaction psychologique. Ils considéraient leurs pairs et les familles comme soutenant et approuvant leur engagement, tout en reconnaissant les capacités physiques et les contraintes structurelles nécessaires pour se livrer aux Jeux et les activités connexes. Les résultats indiquent comment les croyances pertinentes peuvent être combinées avec des interventions pour encourager pour les personnes âgées des activités physiques des loisirs.

Keywords

agingolder adultsphysical activitySenior Gamestheory of planned behaviorvieillissementpersonnes âgées (adultes âgés)activité physiqueJeux des aînésthéorie du comportement planifi
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , December 2016 , pp. 513 - 525
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2016 

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