Psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults: a systematic review

• Published in: Ageing and society Vol. 40; no. 7; pp. 1529 - 1549
• Main Authors: Kim, Amy Chan Hyung, Park, So Hyun, Kim, Sanghoon, Fontes-Comber, Ashlee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Adolescents; Aging; Anxiety; Athletes; Confidence; Emotions; Empowerment; Gerontology; Health problems; Health promotion; Health status; Life satisfaction; Life stress; Mental depression; Mental health; Older people; Participation; Physical fitness; Psychological distress; Public health; Resistance; Self esteem; Social participation; Socialization; Sports; Sports participation; Stereotypes; Systematic review; United States > US; older adults; psychological outcomes; psycho-social outcomes; sport participation; systematic review; social outcomes
• ISSN: 0144-686X; 1469-1779
• DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X19000175

Sport participation is well known to promote health outcomes for children and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence about the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults. This article provides the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults. A systematic review of seven electronic databases was conducted and a total of 21 studies published that attended to psychological and/or social health benefits from sport participation of older adults (50 years old and over) were included. The outcomes of older adults’ sport participation included life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, stress, mood state, hedonistic values, socialisation, competition, and personal psychological outcomes such as personal empowerment, self-confidence, self-esteem and resistance to the negative view of ageing. Future studies are needed to conceptualise and operationalise the different levels of involvement of sport participation.