Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Sports Management and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
10.22089/rws.2025.18020.1066
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Purpose
The advent of the 21st century has brought population aging to the forefront as a significant demographic and social challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) has aptly termed this period the "century of the elderly." Developing countries, in particular, face mounting pressure on their welfare systems due to the expanding elderly population, necessitating novel policies to address ensuing economic and social impacts. Aging commonly entails reduced mobility, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and increased social isolation, all of which detrimentally affect the quality of life.
Physical activity is widely recognized as an effective intervention to promote physical, mental, and social health among older adults. Nevertheless, participation rates—especially among elderly women—are substantially influenced by sociocultural factors. Social support, manifested through family encouragement and involvement in group exercise programs, substantially enhances engagement in physical activities among elderly women. Conversely, barriers such as insufficient social support, caregiving responsibilities, and gender-specific constraints constitute formidable obstacles to participation.
Existing literature consistently reports that regular exercise not only promotes physical health improvements but also bolsters mental well-being and nurtures social interactions, mitigating symptoms of depression and loneliness. In Iran, elderly women contend with additional challenges rooted in their traditional familial and societal roles, which further restrict their involvement in physical activity. Prior studies have predominantly centered on the individual-level benefits of exercise, often neglecting the pivotal role of community and social support structures. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the social supports and barriers shaping elderly women’s participation in physical activities and to offer strategies aimed at enhancing their quality of life.
Methods
This qualitative study employed an exploratory design with an applied objective, conducted in field settings to capture authentic participant experiences. To avoid researcher bias, investigators entered the field without preconceived hypotheses, focusing solely on narratives provided by participants. Fourteen women aged over 60, who had engaged in regular physical activity—defined as at least three sessions weekly for a minimum of two years—were recruited via purposive, non-probability snowball sampling. Sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached.
Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews lasting between 30 to 40 minutes, accumulating 570 minutes of recorded conversation. Interviews were conducted with participants’ informed consent and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Assessment of methodological rigor included scrupulous attention to the design of interview questions, delivery style, accurate recording, faithful transcription, and comprehensive analysis.
Reliability was confirmed through the test-retest method: three interviews were randomly selected and recoded after 30 days, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.94, evidencing consistency and trustworthiness of coding. Analysis involved qualitative coding whereby transcripts were repeatedly reviewed to extract initial codes. These codes were then clustered into categories by identifying the most significant or recurrent themes. This process enabled data reduction and facilitated abstraction, culminating in the formation of higher-order thematic categories.
Results
Descriptively, participants had a mean age of 66.6 years (range 63–73). Family size ranged from two to five children. Occupationally, the cohort included retired employees (six), retired teachers (four), homemakers (three), and a retired nurse (one). Monthly income variably ranged from 2 million to 16 million Iranian Rials. Residence distribution indicated that eight participants lived in urban centers, four in lower-income neighborhoods, and two in upper-income areas. Educational attainment varied: four held high school diplomas, six possessed bachelor’s degrees, and four attained master’s degrees, with academic backgrounds spanning financial management, biology, engineering, literature, nursing, and theology.
Physical activity types included walking (all 14 participants), swimming (three), cycling (two), mountaineering (one), and bodybuilding (two). Duration of activity participation extended between four and 25 years. Chronic health conditions reported included diabetes mellitus (five), hypertension (six), hyperglycemia (three), cardiovascular disease (one), and pulmonary disease (one), while four participants reported no underlying illnesses.
During open coding, 20 initial concepts pertaining to social support emerged. Through selective coding, these were synthesized into seven subcategories: emotional support, structural support, material support, functional support, social and cultural services, healthcare services, and religious-cultural support. These converged under the overarching core category of “social support.”
Similarly, 18 initial concepts concerning social barriers were identified during open coding. These were consolidated during selective coding into six subcategories: disability perceptions and cultural attitudes, limited social relationships, economic and financial barriers, infrastructural and facility limitations, time and scheduling constraints, and barriers related to information dissemination. These were subsumed under the core category of “social barriers.”
Conclusion
This study elucidates the critical role of social support structures and social barriers in shaping the physical activity participation of elderly women. Social support—including interactions with family, friends, and support groups—serves as a crucial driver of motivation and is instrumental in alleviating stress, depression, and feelings of social isolation. Emotional support, such as family encouragement that boosts self-confidence and self-efficacy, structural support via availability of suitable sports infrastructure (parks, exercise programs), and material support including free or subsidized services to reduce healthcare expenses, all function synergistically to promote engagement.
Functional support, delivered through adaptive and multifaceted exercise plans tailored to individual health states, coupled with social, cultural, and religious education provided in collaboration with community organizations, further enhances adherence and participation. Health and medical support, encompassing monitoring and specialized counseling, contribute significantly to maintaining physical, mental, and social health, thereby facilitating active aging.
Conversely, social barriers impede participation. These barriers include societal disempowerment rooted in traditional beliefs and cultural norms, limited social networks exacerbated by physical impairments or fear of injury, and economic limitations arising from high costs juxtaposed with constrained personal income. Structural challenges—such as the absence of accessible parks and appropriate walking paths—and time-related constraints due to poor scheduling compound these difficulties. Additionally, inadequate dissemination of information regarding available programs acts as a deterrent.
Altogether, the research underscores the imperative of multi-tiered, integrative interventions designed to bolster social support mechanisms while dismantling barriers. Such comprehensive approaches are essential to foster increased physical activity participation and promote healthy, active aging among elderly women.
Keywords: Social Support, Social Barriers, Elderly Women, Physical Activity, Participation.
Article Message
The findings advocate for the design and deployment of multi-level interventions that enhance diverse dimensions of social support—including emotional, structural, material, functional, cultural, and health-related aspects—and concurrently address entrenched barriers such as traditional attitudes, economic constraints, and insufficient facilities. These strategies are vital to augment physical activity engagement among older women and to advance an active aging agenda that prioritizes health and well-being.
Ethical Considerations
All procedures conducted within this study adhered strictly to established ethical guidelines. Informed consent was obtained from each participant, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity of their personal information. Participants retained the right to withdraw from the study at any point without consequence. Data were collected, stored, and used exclusively for research purposes under rigorous privacy protection protocols.
Authors’ Contributions
Conceptualization: [First author]
Data Collection: Second author
Data Analysis: First author
Manuscript Writing: Second author
Review and Editing: First author
Funding Responsibility: First author
Literature Review: Second author
Project Management: First author
The authors contributed equally to other related research projects.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
The research was conducted without external financial support. The authors sincerely thank all participants for their cooperation and patience. Gratitude is also extended to the referees for their constructive and insightful comments that greatly enhanced the manuscript quality.
Keywords
