What older adults find meaningful in organised sport participation: proposing the HeRO model

Few older adults participate in organised sport. The reasons highlighted have predominantly focused on physical health factors related to the effects of physical activity. We argue that what, who, and how we ask matters in understanding more about older adults' participation in sport. We need more knowledge regarding how participation relates to health beyond purely the physiological effects of physical activity. The aim of this study was therefore to contribute knowledge about which health resources older adults find meaningful for participation in organised sport.

This study applied salutogenic theory to identify health resources through a cross-sectional survey. The sample included more than 1,000 sports clubs in Sweden (n = 4,837 older adults, 60-96 years of age, one-third women, participating in 50 different sports). Open-ended responses from the Salutogenic Physical Activity Health Resources Questionnaire were analysed using a theory-driven approach.

We propose HeRO, an empirically based conceptual model, to explain older adults' participation in organised sport. Participation can be explored and understood as a combination of health resources that people consider meaningful. Ten health resources were identified, with the majority of respondents highlighting having fun, socialising with others, maintaining sport as a routine in their lives, and feeling fit as central to their participation.