Are they ‘worth their weight in gold’? Sport for older adults: benefits and barriers of their participation for sporting organisations
- Jenkin, Claire, Eime, Rochelle, Westerbeek, Hans, O’Sullivan, Grant, van Uffelen, Jannique
- Authors: Jenkin, Claire , Eime, Rochelle , Westerbeek, Hans , O’Sullivan, Grant , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sport Policy Vol. 8, no. 4 (2016), p. 663-680
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ageing global population has led to an increased focus on health for older adults. However, older adults have not been a specific priority for some sporting organisations (SOs). Thus, there is an emerging opportunity for this age group to be considered within international sport policy. The aim of this study was to understand the benefits and barriers that SOs encounter when engaging older adults. Eight focus group interviews (n = 49) were held with representatives of Australian national sporting organisations (NSOs), and older adults who were either sport club or non-sport club members. The socioecological model domains, interpersonal, organisational and policy, were used as a framework for thematic analysis, and organisational capacity building concepts were utilised to explain the findings. Common perceived benefits included interpersonal benefits (intergenerational opportunities and role models) and organisational benefits (volunteering, financial contributions and maximised facility usage) for engaging older adults. Common perceived barriers included interpersonal barriers (competing priorities and perceived societal expectations), organisational barriers (lack of appropriate playing opportunities, lack of facility access and lack of club capacity) and policy barriers (strategic organisational focus on children and elite sport and risk management). Whilst participation in sport is not common for older adults, their involvement can be invaluable for sport clubs. It is not anticipated that any policy focus on older adults will significantly increase active participation for this age group. However, any increase in older adults’ sport participation either through actively playing, supporting family and friends and/or volunteering will contribute to the positive health of individuals, sport clubs and the community. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Authors: Jenkin, Claire , Eime, Rochelle , Westerbeek, Hans , O’Sullivan, Grant , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sport Policy Vol. 8, no. 4 (2016), p. 663-680
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ageing global population has led to an increased focus on health for older adults. However, older adults have not been a specific priority for some sporting organisations (SOs). Thus, there is an emerging opportunity for this age group to be considered within international sport policy. The aim of this study was to understand the benefits and barriers that SOs encounter when engaging older adults. Eight focus group interviews (n = 49) were held with representatives of Australian national sporting organisations (NSOs), and older adults who were either sport club or non-sport club members. The socioecological model domains, interpersonal, organisational and policy, were used as a framework for thematic analysis, and organisational capacity building concepts were utilised to explain the findings. Common perceived benefits included interpersonal benefits (intergenerational opportunities and role models) and organisational benefits (volunteering, financial contributions and maximised facility usage) for engaging older adults. Common perceived barriers included interpersonal barriers (competing priorities and perceived societal expectations), organisational barriers (lack of appropriate playing opportunities, lack of facility access and lack of club capacity) and policy barriers (strategic organisational focus on children and elite sport and risk management). Whilst participation in sport is not common for older adults, their involvement can be invaluable for sport clubs. It is not anticipated that any policy focus on older adults will significantly increase active participation for this age group. However, any increase in older adults’ sport participation either through actively playing, supporting family and friends and/or volunteering will contribute to the positive health of individuals, sport clubs and the community. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Sport for adults aged 50+years : Participation benefits and barriers
- Jenkin, Claire, Eime, Rochelle, Westerbeek, Hans, van Uffelen, Jannique
- Authors: Jenkin, Claire , Eime, Rochelle , Westerbeek, Hans , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Aging and Physical Activity Vol. 26, no. 3 (2018), p. 363-371
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite the health benefits of sport, the proportion of people participating in sport decreases with age. This qualitative study explored the benefits and barriers regarding older adult community sport participation, from the perspective of national sporting organizations, in addition to older adult sport club and nonsport club members, across eight focus group interviews (n = 49). Seven benefits were discussed, primarily social and physical health and intergenerational opportunities. Ten barriers were also discussed, including physical health, time constraints, and lack of appropriate playing opportunities. Ensuring access to activities that can benefit social health is of great importance to older adults. As sport can provide participation opportunities across generations, it can be an ideal physical activity option for this age group. However, a major barrier is that sport policy often prioritizes the participation for younger age groups. Policymakers should include a focus on older adults, to derive social health benefits.
- Authors: Jenkin, Claire , Eime, Rochelle , Westerbeek, Hans , van Uffelen, Jannique
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Aging and Physical Activity Vol. 26, no. 3 (2018), p. 363-371
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite the health benefits of sport, the proportion of people participating in sport decreases with age. This qualitative study explored the benefits and barriers regarding older adult community sport participation, from the perspective of national sporting organizations, in addition to older adult sport club and nonsport club members, across eight focus group interviews (n = 49). Seven benefits were discussed, primarily social and physical health and intergenerational opportunities. Ten barriers were also discussed, including physical health, time constraints, and lack of appropriate playing opportunities. Ensuring access to activities that can benefit social health is of great importance to older adults. As sport can provide participation opportunities across generations, it can be an ideal physical activity option for this age group. However, a major barrier is that sport policy often prioritizes the participation for younger age groups. Policymakers should include a focus on older adults, to derive social health benefits.
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