Social Support to Enhance Social Participation and Physical Literacy in Older Adults
This series of studies examined social support that older adults need and/or receive to participate in group physical activity programs, support they receive from those groups, and social barriers for participating.
More information about this project
The purpose of this research was to understand what socially supportive behaviours help adults age 55 and older engage in group physical activity.
We examined the social support needs, challenges, and experiences of adults age 55 and older who are and are not currently engaged in recreational group physical activity programs. The perspectives of recreation practitioners and key stakeholders working with older adults were also gathered regarding social support needs of older adults, programmatic and community opportunities and challenges, and ways of supporting vulnerable older adults.
This series of studies was funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant.
Experiences with social participation in group physical activity programs for older adults
Zimmer, C., McDonough, M. H., Hewson, J., Toohey, A., Din, C., Crocker, P. R. E., & Bennett, E. V. (2021). Experiences with social participation in group physical activity programs for older adults. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 43(4), 335-344. doi:10.1123/jsep.2020-0335
Social support among older adults in group physical activity programs
This study examined older adults' social participation experiences in group physical activity programs.
Zimmer, C., McDonough, M. H., Hewson, J., Toohey, A. M., Din, C., Crocker, P. R. E., & Bennett, E. V. (2022). Social support among older adults in group physical activity programs. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 35(4), 658-679. doi:10.1080/10413200.2022.2055223
Older adults' experiences with social support from group exercise instructors
This study examined social support from fitness instructors among older adults taking part in group physical activity programs.
Morrison, L., McDonough, M. H., Zimmer, C., Din, C., Hewson, J., Toohey, A., Crocker, P. R. E., & Bennett, E. V. (2023). Instructor Social Support in the Group Physical Activity Context: Older Participants' Perspectives. Journal of aging and physical activity, 1–11. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1123/japa.2022-0140
Social supports and barriers for older adults not currently participating in group physical activity
This study examined the social support needs of inactive older adults, and social barriers that may prevent their participation in group physical activity.
Morrison, L., McDonough, M. H., Hewson, J., Toohey, A., Din, C., & Kenny, S. J. (2023). Social Supports and Barriers for Older Adults Not Participating in Group Physical Activity. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2022-0156.