Factors affecting social participation of older adults in recreational physical activity

Abstract

This research was part of the issue of Occupation and Active Older Adult, setting a goal to answer the research question: What factors influence the social participation of the elderly, specifically in recreational physical activity?, aiming specifically those factors that emerge as facilitators or impede participation.

To achieve this objective, in-depth interviews were conducted to four people who met the criteria established for the study sample, corresponding to: Older adult who recognize themselves as active, involved at least a year in recreational physical activity, and as at least once a week in the last year.

This exploratory qualitative used the technique of content analysis from the account of participants, having as main findings of this participation facilitating factors, where the most significant relate to: Exchange of intangible resources, Motivation, Lived body, Path of life, Habituation and Accessibility, which relate primarily to factors relating to that person, being a powerful accessibility elderly external prism that influences their involvement in such activities.

In addition there was a variety of factors that interact with each other attractive determining relationships within and between categories, which identified issues which cut across the different themes addressed in this research.

Finally, note that the nature of this study enables the opening of new lines of research that may contribute to the Occupation Science and Occupational Therapy.