Sport Management Studies

Multilevel Factors Affecting the Social Inclusion of Women in Sports

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 1- Ph.D. Candidate in Sport Management, faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor in Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor in Sport Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

4 5- Professor in Sport Economics, Sport Sociology and Sport History, Johannes Gutenberg‐University, Mainz, Germany

Abstract
Background and Purpose
The low participation rates of the elderly in physical activity indicate that their needs and desires are often unmet, partly due to ageism, which leads to their exclusion from such activities (1,2). Addressing social exclusion through the promotion of social inclusion is a global challenge faced by policymakers, practitioners, and communities (3). Marivoet (2014) defines social inclusion in sports as the existence of genuine equal opportunities for all individuals-including the elderly, women, and people with disabilities-to access sports (4). Participation in physical activity can mitigate the physiological and psychological effects of aging, enhance life expectancy, and improve quality of life (5). However, in Iran, structural, individual, and interpersonal barriers prevent the elderly from engaging in physical activity (6). These challenges, compounded by aging stereotypes, have contributed to the marginalization of older adults from sports and physical activity spaces. This study aims to identify the multilevel factors influencing the social inclusion of the elderly in physical activity.
 
Materials and Methods
This multimethod qualitative research employed participant observation, interviews, and secondary document analysis to explore determinants of social inclusion among the elderly in physical activity. To enhance reliability, a three-step process was implemented to limit researcher bias and enable triangulation. The research team engaged in ongoing discussions throughout data collection to improve validity. The study population included experts in elderly sports, sports sociologists, sports psychologists, and trainers experienced in elderly physical activity, as well as elderly individuals who engage in sports at least once weekly. Snowball sampling was used to select participants, resulting in nine expert interviews and seventeen elderly participant interviews. Semi-structured interviews averaged 60 minutes each. Data were analyzed line-by-line using Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) coding procedures, organizing data into initial, first-order, and higher-order themes. Validity was ensured through peer review and expert consultation.
Findings
While social inclusion in sports has increasingly been recognized, research has predominantly focused on gender and religious minorities and persons with disabilities, with less attention to the elderly, who face age-based discrimination. Existing studies often emphasize individual participation, neglecting organizational and societal determinants from a sociological perspective. This study identified multilevel factors affecting elderly social inclusion in physical activity. At the micro-level, factors include psychological characteristics, well-being, intergenerational relationships, personal conditions, and communication skills. Meso-level (organizational) factors involve leadership qualities of sports coaches, educational activities, environmental conditions, and characteristics of sports organization managers. Macro-level factors encompass social characteristics, pressures for deinstitutionalization, and legal frameworks. These factors collectively create conditions conducive to elderly social inclusion in physical activity. However, social inclusion requires comprehensive social development at the community level, which includes social support, justice, security, and welfare.
 
Conclusion
The social inclusion of the elderly in physical activity is influenced by a complex interplay of micro, meso, and macro-level factors. Furthermore, broad social development within communities significantly shapes these dynamics, ultimately facilitating elderly inclusion. These insights can guide relevant organizations-such as the Ministry of Sports and Youth, provincial administrations, sports federations, and municipalities-in designing effective policies and programs to promote elderly participation in physical activity, thereby advancing social justice in Iran

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Sport Management Studies
Volume 16, Issue 87
May and June 2024
Pages 127-150

  • Receive Date 16 March 2023
  • Revise Date 21 August 2023
  • Accept Date 22 January 2024

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