پدیدارشناسی تجربه سالمندان از موانع و تسهیل گرهای مشارکت در فعالیت‌های ورزشی اوقات فراغت

Introduction

"Active aging" has recently become a central focus of health policy, with global guidelines highlighting regular physical activity, particularly in the form of recreational sports, as one of the most important strategies for maintaining performance, independence, and quality of life for older adults. Systematic reviews have shown that diverse exercise programs for this age group improve balance, the ability to perform daily tasks, and mental well-being, thereby enhancing overall quality of life. However, a large proportion of older adults worldwide, including in Iran, still fail to meet recommended physical activity levels. Local evidence suggests that their participation in sports is influenced by a combination of personal, family, environmental, and cultural factors. Most of these studies are quantitative and questionnaire-based, with limited exploration of how older adults themselves experience and interpret physical activity during their leisure time, including the barriers and facilitators they encounter. Addressing this gap is essential for designing realistic, human-centered interventions.

Methods

The present study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian older adults with the barriers and facilitators of participating in recreational sports activities, providing a cohesive picture of how they perceive and experience exercise in their daily lives. This applied qualitative study used a descriptive phenomenological approach. The study sample consisted of elderly individuals aged 60 and above, residing in Tabriz, who had at least one experience related to leisure-time physical activity (regular participation, irregular participation, or conscious avoidance). The sample was selected purposefully. The sampling process continued until theoretical saturation was reached, with 18 participants (11 men and 7 women) eventually contributing to the research. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews, conducted in a calm environment, each lasting approximately 30-40 minutes. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was performed using the seven-step method of Colaizzi, facilitated by MAXQDA 2020 software, and the validity of the findings was ensured through expert review and parallel coding of selected text segments.

Results

Through data analysis, 119 sub-themes were identified and organized into 8 main themes of barriers (physical limitations and fear of injury, psychological and emotional barriers, insufficient social support, inadequate infrastructure and poor urban environments, inappropriate management and planning, rest-oriented culture and age-related stereotypes, role conflicts and personal leisure time, and previous negative experiences in sports) and 7 main themes of facilitators (social support and strengthening the identity of active aging, awareness of the benefits of exercise and the experience of improved health, accessibility and suitability of sports spaces, exercise programs tailored to needs, the role of physical activity in daily life, organizational and institutional support, and loyalty and belonging to sports groups).

Conclusion

The final findings of the study showed that the experience of elderly individuals in Tabriz participating in recreational sports activities was influenced by multiple factors, including physical, psychological, familial, urban, and organizational elements. Chronic pain, surgical history, fear of falling, and polypharmacy create an unstable and fragile perception of the body, leading seniors to assess every movement with concern about aggravating pain or injury. Feelings of embarrassment about an aging body, fear of judgment in public, low mood, and long-term habits of sitting present exercise as a mentally taxing activity, which makes purely recommendation-based interventions less effective. Restricting family concern, lack of a consistent companion, cold interactions in sports spaces, high costs, and unsafe urban infrastructure reinforce this image, causing seniors to devote more time and energy to caregiving and family roles rather than self-care.

In contrast, encouragement from children and peers, being recognized as an active senior, the tangible experience of pain reduction, improved balance, and mood, access to safe and nearby pathways, simple and understandable exercise programs, and membership in stable sports groups foster a new identity based on "active elderly" and integrate physical activity into daily life.

Based on these findings, it is recommended that health networks and the healthcare system design short and clear educational programs for healthcare teams and families regarding safe activity levels and managing pain and fear. Additionally, municipalities should develop low-cost, sustainable sports groups and urban spaces for seniors, creating a supportive environment for the experience of "an active body with social backing" in this age group.

Footnotes

Ethical approval: This study was non-experimental in nature and did not involve any intervention with human or animal subjects; therefore, obtaining an ethics approval code was not required. Nevertheless, all stages of the research were conducted in accordance with ethical research principles, including academic integrity, respect for authors’ intellectual property rights, and avoidance of data fabrication or distortion.

Funding: This research has not received financial support from any organization or body.

Authors’ contribution: All authors participated in the data collection process and writing the content of the article.

Conflict of interest: No conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors of the article.

Acknowledgments: The authors of the article are grateful to all those who helped and assisted in conducting this research.