(Re)conceptualising physical activity participation as career

Palmer, V., Bowness, J. and Tulle, E. (2021) (Re)conceptualising physical activity participation as career. Ageing and Society, 41(4), pp. 936-954. (doi: 10.1017/S0144686X19001430)

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Abstract

Physical activity is increasingly positioned as playing an important role in preventing and mitigating many of the decrements associated with biological ageing. As a result, public health messages encourage older people to remain active in later life. Despite this, physical activity participation rates among older adults are low. This may be in part related to the conventional approach to understanding physical activity participation as a product of motivation. We contend that this approach does not allow for a deeper exploration of the wider structural, historical and discursive contexts in which physical activity participation occurs. Therefore, we propose that physical activity can be reconceptualised as a career. Through a synthesis of findings from four studies exploring physical activity experiences in later life, we demonstrate that beginning and maintaining a physical activity career requires a disposition towards physical activity, the legitimation of physically active practices and dealing with contingencies. In addition, we demonstrate that maintaining a physical activity career requires investment and deliberation to adapt physical activity practices continually within an individual's own personal biography. As such, we conclude that current strategies to promote physical activity to older adults are unlikely to result in increased levels of participation. To promote physical activity to older adults an understanding of how structural, cultural and historical contexts influence participation is needed.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bowness, Dr James and Palmer, Dr Victoria
Authors: Palmer, V., Bowness, J., and Tulle, E.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Social Scientists working in Health and Wellbeing
University Services > Learning and Teaching Services Division
Journal Name:Ageing and Society
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:0144-686X
ISSN (Online):1469-1779
Published Online:08 November 2019
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2019 Cambridge University Press
First Published:First published in Ageing and Society 41(4): 936-954
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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