Sport Psychological Constructs Related To Participation in the 2009 World Masters Games
Whilst there is growing evidence that activity across
the lifespan is beneficial for improved health, there are also many
changes involved with the aging process and subsequently the
potential for reduced indices of health. The nexus between all forms
of health, physical activity and aging is complex and has raised much
interest in recent times due to the realization that a multifaceted
approached is necessary in order to counteract a growing obesity
epidemic. By investigating age based trends within a population
adherring to competitive sport at older ages, further insight might be
gleaned to assist in understanding one of many factors influencing
this relationship. This study evaluated those sport psychological
constructs of health, physical fitness, mental health states, and social
dimension factors in sport that were associated with factors to
participate in sport and physical activity based on responses from the
2009 World Masters Games in Sydney. The sample consisted of
7846 athletes who competed at the games and who completed a 56
item sports participation survey using a 7-point Likert response (1 -
not important to 7 - very important). Questions focuses on factors
thought to promote participation, such as weight control, living
longer, improving mental health (self-esteem, mood states),
improving physical health and factors related to the athlete-s
competitive perspective. The most significant factors related to
participation with this cohort of masters athletes were the socializing
environment of sport, getting physically fit and improving
competitive personal best performances. Strategies to increase
participation in masters sport should focus on these factors as other
factors such as weight loss, improving mental health and living
longer were not identified as important determinates of sports
participation at the World Masters level.
[1] Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Committee, Sydney 2009 World
Masters Games Final Report, 2009.
[2] K. Sawyer and C. "Cardiovascular disease review Impact of aerobic
physical activity on cardiovascular and noncardiovascular outcomes: Is
anyone too old to exercise?" Aging Health, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 251-260,
2010.
[3] J. Williamson and M. Pahor, "Evidence Regarding the Benefits of Physical
Exercise," Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 170, no. 2, pp. 124-125,
2010.
[4] A. Ryan, "Review exercise in aging: It-s important role in mortality,
obesity and insulin resistance," Aging Health, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 551-563,
2010.
[5] C. Kenyon, "The genetics of aging," Nature vol. 464, pp. 504-512, 2010.
[6] A. King, and J. Guralnik, "Maximizing the potential of an aging
population," The Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 304,
no. 17, pp. 1954-1955, 2010.
[7] T. Doherty, "Aging and sarcopenia," Journal of Applied Physiology, vol.
95, no. 4, pp. 1717-1727, 2003.
[8]World Health Organisation, Global Recommendations on Physical Activity
for Health, Geneva, 2010.
[9] Australian Bureau of Statistics, Participation in Sport and Physical
Recreation. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011.
[10] SPSS Inc, PASW: Statistics 18. User-s Guide. Chicago: SPSS Inc, 2011.
[1] Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Committee, Sydney 2009 World
Masters Games Final Report, 2009.
[2] K. Sawyer and C. "Cardiovascular disease review Impact of aerobic
physical activity on cardiovascular and noncardiovascular outcomes: Is
anyone too old to exercise?" Aging Health, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 251-260,
2010.
[3] J. Williamson and M. Pahor, "Evidence Regarding the Benefits of Physical
Exercise," Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 170, no. 2, pp. 124-125,
2010.
[4] A. Ryan, "Review exercise in aging: It-s important role in mortality,
obesity and insulin resistance," Aging Health, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 551-563,
2010.
[5] C. Kenyon, "The genetics of aging," Nature vol. 464, pp. 504-512, 2010.
[6] A. King, and J. Guralnik, "Maximizing the potential of an aging
population," The Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 304,
no. 17, pp. 1954-1955, 2010.
[7] T. Doherty, "Aging and sarcopenia," Journal of Applied Physiology, vol.
95, no. 4, pp. 1717-1727, 2003.
[8]World Health Organisation, Global Recommendations on Physical Activity
for Health, Geneva, 2010.
[9] Australian Bureau of Statistics, Participation in Sport and Physical
Recreation. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011.
[10] SPSS Inc, PASW: Statistics 18. User-s Guide. Chicago: SPSS Inc, 2011.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:63308", author = "Ian Heazlewood and Joe Walsh and Mike Climstein and Stephen Burke and Kent Adams and Mark DeBeliso", title = "Sport Psychological Constructs Related To Participation in the 2009 World Masters Games", abstract = "Whilst there is growing evidence that activity across
the lifespan is beneficial for improved health, there are also many
changes involved with the aging process and subsequently the
potential for reduced indices of health. The nexus between all forms
of health, physical activity and aging is complex and has raised much
interest in recent times due to the realization that a multifaceted
approached is necessary in order to counteract a growing obesity
epidemic. By investigating age based trends within a population
adherring to competitive sport at older ages, further insight might be
gleaned to assist in understanding one of many factors influencing
this relationship. This study evaluated those sport psychological
constructs of health, physical fitness, mental health states, and social
dimension factors in sport that were associated with factors to
participate in sport and physical activity based on responses from the
2009 World Masters Games in Sydney. The sample consisted of
7846 athletes who competed at the games and who completed a 56
item sports participation survey using a 7-point Likert response (1 -
not important to 7 - very important). Questions focuses on factors
thought to promote participation, such as weight control, living
longer, improving mental health (self-esteem, mood states),
improving physical health and factors related to the athlete-s
competitive perspective. The most significant factors related to
participation with this cohort of masters athletes were the socializing
environment of sport, getting physically fit and improving
competitive personal best performances. Strategies to increase
participation in masters sport should focus on these factors as other
factors such as weight loss, improving mental health and living
longer were not identified as important determinates of sports
participation at the World Masters level.", keywords = "masters sport, promoting participation, sport
psychology.", volume = "5", number = "5", pages = "801-3", }