“Happines is a thing that the eyes transmit”
Perceptions about social connections in older people who practice physical exercises
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.127395Keywords:
Socialization, Elderly, Physical Exercise, Sport Psychology, Interpersonal Relations, MotivationAbstract
The aim of this study was to verify the older people’s perceptions about the characteristics that contributed to the social connections in a systematic physical exercises program. For this, a qualitative method was used, and 18 participants were interviewed after a 16-week training program. A face-to-face interview was carried out, based on a script with semi-structured questions. The data was analyzed using the Thematic Analysis method. Four general themes were identified: a) extrinsic motivation, b) group characteristics, c) personal characteristics, and d) professional characteristics. Furthermore, some attributes were identified, such as identify familiar people in the programs, belong in a group of participants with similar age, be open to dialogue and have professionals with socio-affective characteristics such as communication, empathy, among others, which can influence the perception of social connections during physical exercise, enhancing its benefits and contributing to a physically active life.Downloads
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