Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Sports Physiology, General Department of Paramedical Faculty, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Department of Business Management, Faculty of Business and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Physical Education, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

10.30476/smsj.2025.104144.1564

Abstract

Introduction: The global population is aging, with the proportion of elderly individuals increasing with each census. Therefore, investigating strategies to improve the health and well-being of this demographic is imperative. This study aimed to design a strategic renewal model for healthy aging by organizing public sports activities for the elderly in urban parks.
Methods: This qualitative study employed thematic analysis to model strategies for promoting public sports for the elderly with a healthy aging approach in urban parks. The objective was to collect, summarize, conceptualize, and categorize identified strategies. The research population consisted of experts, academics in sports management, sociology, psychology, educational sciences, social work, gerontology, and elderly sports with relevant educational or research experience, as well as all policymakers and executives involved in the elderly sports sector.
Results: Regarding the dimensions of healthy aging strategies, the analysis identified 74 concepts, 17 sub-themes, and 6 main themes. For the strategies themselves, 129 concepts, 100 initial codes, 35 sub-themes, and 12 main themes were identified. Ultimately, 35 general operational programs for healthy aging strategies emphasizing sports activities were formulated.
Conclusion: The outcome of the participatory action research was the development of an operational model, an improvement in the quality of healthy aging programs, and enhanced satisfaction among the healthy elderly, their families, and program staff.

Keywords

  1. Hu FB. Diet strategies for promoting healthy aging and longevity: an epidemiological perspective. J Intern Med. 2024;295(4):508-31.
  2. Ravyts SG, Dzierzewski JM. Sleep and healthy aging: a systematic review and path forward. Clin Gerontol. 2024;47(3):367-79.
  3. Chen LK. Connecting the dots: sarcopenia’s roles on chronic condition management toward healthy aging. J Chin Med Assoc. 2024;87(1):3-4.
  4. Xu W, Holm T, Lee S, Uherbelau G, Madraisau S, Subediang H. Toward healthy aging in Palau. Gerontologist. 2024;64(2):gnad078.
  5. Langevin HM, Weber W, Chen W. Integrated multicomponent interventions to support healthy aging of the whole person. Aging Cell. 2024;23(1):e14001.
  6. Bojang KP, Manchana V. Nutrition and healthy aging: a review. Curr Nutr Rep. 2023;12(3):369-75.
  7. Erkkola RU, Vasankari T, Erkkola RA. Opinion paper: exercise for healthy aging. Maturitas. 2021;144:45-52.
  8. Biglary I, Fahim DH, Esmaeilzadeh GMR, Peymanizad H. Explaining the model of healthy lifestyle with emphasis on sports activities of the elderly in the country. [Unpublished manuscript]. 2022.
  9. Espigares-Tribo G, Ensenyat A. Assessing an educational booklet for promotion of healthy lifestyles in sedentary adults with cardiometabolic risk factors. Patient Educ Couns. 2021;104(1):201-6.
  10. Fleg JL. Aerobic exercise training and healthy aging. In: Encyclopedia of gerontology and population aging. Cham: Springer; 2022. p. 98-101.
  11. Sabbaghzadeh A, Vazirinejad R, Khalili P, Sabzavari S. The effect of healthy lifestyle education on the quality of life of the elderly in Rafsanjan: a quasi-experimental study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci. 2021;20(5):539-53. Persian.
  12. Tagharobi Z, Mohammadkhan KS, Mohammadi E. The facilitators of using complementary therapies in clinical nursing: a qualitative content analysis. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2016;15(8):691-714. Persian.
  13. Alahdadi N, Kordzanganeh J, Mirzaei E, Hlychy F. Sociological analysis of determinants affecting the feeling of despair and hopelessness of the elderly. Soc Stud Res. 2023;14(2):343-70. Persian.
  14. Wang Y, Tian Y, Du W, Fan L. Does work after retirement affect health‐related quality of life: evidence from a propensity score matching study in China. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2024;24(7):722-9.
  15. Santamaria-Garcia H, Sainz-Ballesteros A, Hernandez H, Moguilner S, Maito M, Ochoa-Rosales C, et al. Factors associated with healthy aging in Latin American populations. Nat Med. 2023;29(9):2248-58.
  16. Kim HK, Oh HS, Park CH. The mediating effects of social networks and wisdom on the relationship between lifestyle habits and healthy aging in older adults with chronic diseases. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023;13(8):688.
  17. Sharghi A, Salehi Kousalari F. Relationship between cognitive factors and social indicators in designing the healing spaces for old-age people. Iran J Ageing. 2017;12(3):346-59. Persian.
  18. Gholipour Z, Farahani M, Riahi L, Hajinabi K. Priorities of active aging policy in Iran. Dep Health. 2020;11:52-61. Persian.
  19. Ayoubi-Mahani S, Eghbali-Babadi M, Farajzadegan Z, Keshvari M, Farokhzadian J. Active aging needs from the perspectives of older adults and geriatric experts: a qualitative study. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1121761.
  20. Taghdisi MH, Doshmangir P, Dehdari T, Doshmangir L. Influencing factors on healthy lifestyle from viewpoint of elderly people: qualitative study. Iran J Ageing. 2013;7(4):47-58. Persian.
  21. Khalagi K, Hoveidaei AH, AziziKia H, Karimi A, Sattarpour R, Fahimfar N, et al. Identifying determinants for falls among Iranian older adults: insights from the Bushehr Elderly Health Program. BMC Geriatr. 2024;24(1):588.
  22. Jalali S, Roozbahani N, Shamsi M. Determinants of physical activity behaviors among people aged 30 to 50 years: an application of the trans-theoretical model. J Educ Community Health. 2019;6(1):17-23. Persian.
  23. Marzban M, Jamshidi A, Khorrami Z, Hall M, Batty JA, Farhadi A, et al. Determinants of multimorbidity in older adults in Iran: a cross-sectional study using latent class analysis on the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program. BMC Geriatr. 2024;24(1):247.
  24. Mohammadi Z, Keshkar S, Shahlaee Bagheri J. The role of social targeting, customer segmentation, and physical activity positioning for the development of sports among the Iranian elderly. Soc Welf Q. 2020;20(77):329-55. Persian.
  25. Bakhshalipour V, Khodaparast S, Kalashi M, Farokhi A. Correlation between sports participation motivation with mental health, happiness and quality of life in the staff of Baqerul Uloom Marine Science Training Center. J Mar Med. 2022;4(1):48-55.
  26. Reid KJ, Baron KG, Lu B, Naylor E, Wolfe L, Zee PC. Aerobic exercise improves self-reported sleep and quality of life in older adults with insomnia. Sleep Med. 2010;11(9):934-40.
  27. Bagherian Farahabadi M, Naghshbandi S. Interior design’s requirements of sport equipment and facilities for aged people. J Gerontol. 2018;3(2):14-26. Persian.
  28. Chockalingam A, Singh A, Kathirvel S. Healthy aging and quality of life of the elderly. In: Principles and application of evidence-based public health practice. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2024. p. 187-211.
  29. Arensberg MB, Gahche JJ, Pemau RC, Kerr KW, Dwyer JT. Quality-of-life instruments and nutrition screening tools: overlaps, opportunities, and implications for healthy aging in the United States. Nutr Today. 2024;59(3):86-99.