Identification of Psychosocial Factors Influencing Sports Participation among Older Adults: A Systematic Review Study
Keywords:
psychosocial factors, sports participation, older adultsAbstract
Sports participation among older adults is considered one of the fundamental components in promoting physical, psychological, and social health during aging. Given the increasing trend of the aging population and the associated health, social, and economic challenges, this study was conducted with the aim of systematically identifying and classifying psychosocial factors influencing sports participation among older adults. This study is a systematic review conducted through searching articles in valid international and national databases using relevant keywords and their Persian equivalents. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and analyzed through content analysis based on an extracted conceptual framework. The results indicated that the factors influencing sports participation among older adults are classified into three main categories: (1) psychological factors including motivation, attitudes, quality of life, and mental health; (2) social factors including social support, interpersonal interactions, policies, technology, physical environment, constraints, and facilitators; and (3) barriers including economic, social, and structural factors. Data analysis suggests that these factors are often multidimensional and overlapping in nature. Sports participation among older adults is simultaneously influenced by psychological, social, and structural barriers, and neglecting any of these dimensions may reduce the effectiveness of intervention programs. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for designing evidence-based interventions and developing supportive policies to increase sports participation rates among older adults.
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