China’s population of older individuals reached 264.02 million in 2020, an increase of 5.44% from 2010. This study explores how participation in serious leisure sports, which have enduring benefits for older adults, contributes to active aging. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 older participants aged 60–78 years who had participated in a leisure sport activity for 1 year or longer. A thematic analysis was conducted, and four themes emerged: body improvements, positive emotions, optimistic life attitudes, and social interactions. Older adults who participate in serious leisure sports are empowered via practice and learning opportunities to engage with their aging bodies, pursue psychological benefits, and jointly maintain leisure groups. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of the “rights-based” approach to active aging and allow us to identify serious leisure sports as an active way for older adults to improve their quality of life.
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Promoting Active Aging Through Sports Participation: A Qualitative Exploration of Serious Leisure Among Older Chinese Adults
Wenting Zhou, Yajun Qiu, and Haibo Tian
The Current Status of Leisure Constraints, Leisure Sports Behaviors, and Active Aging Among Chinese Older Adults
Yajun Qiu, Yi Shang, Haibo Tian, and Dongjun Yang
Background: Against the backdrop of China’s active response to population aging, an increasing number of older adults are participating in leisure sports activities to enrich later life and experience active aging. However, when participating in these activities, older adults encounter constraints that affect their leisure sports behaviors. Methods: To understand the current state of leisure constraints, leisure sports behaviors, and active aging among Chinese seniors, we collected 1,581 surveys from older adults in Zhejiang Province, China. A stepwise regression model was used to explore the relationships between leisure constraints and leisure sports behavior as well as between leisure sports behavior and active aging. Results: The respondents’ leisure sports were characterized by light-intensity, moderate duration, high-frequency, and long-term participation with various leisure constraints, such as a lack of organized leisure sports activities. However, the respondents reported that their aging status was positive. Leisure constraints were negatively associated with leisure sports behavior, and self-constraint had a significant impact on leisure sports behavior. Leisure sports behavior positively affected the active aging of older participants and was positively associated with the four subdimensions of active aging: health, participation, security, and lifelong learning. Conclusion: High-frequency and long-term participation in leisure sports is an effective strategy for Chinese seniors to promote active aging. However, there are still many constraints that limit the leisure sports behaviors of older adults. Implications: The findings may inspire Chinese older adults to achieve active aging through leisure sports and provide support for the literature.
