Examining the Impact of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games on Explicit Perceptions of Paralympians and Individuals with Disabilities.

One of the goals of the Paralympic Games is to improve social attitudes toward individuals with physical disabilities (PD) through exposure to parasport and Paralympic mass media messaging. This study assessed whether this goal is achieved by examining changes in explicit perceptions toward Paralympians and individuals with PD over the course of the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Adults without PD (n = 119) were randomized into two groups: (1) an exposure group that was e-mailed local Paralympic Games coverage information before each day of the Games; and (2) a control group that received no e-mails about coverage. All participants completed measures assessing explicit perceptions (i.e., warmth and competence) of Paralympians and individuals with PD two weeks before, two weeks after, and three months following the Games. Exposure to Paralympic media was also assessed. No differences were present between groups for time spent watching the Games, explicit perceptions, or demographics (ps > .05). Thus, data was collapsed across groups for the main analyses. Repeated measure ANOVAs with Bonferroni adjustments indicated that explicit perceptions of warmth decreased over time for both Paralympians and individuals with PD (p ≤ .005). However, Paralympians were rated as significantly more competent and warmer than individuals with PD (ps < .001) at each timepoint. Findings suggest that public exposure to the Paralympics may have more value for Paralympians than the larger disability community. Further research should explore how to disseminate communication regarding the Paralympics to improve social attitudes and optimize integration of all people with disabilities in society.

The Intersecting Influence of Age and Performance Stereotypes on Physical and Psychological Aspects of Stair Navigation in Older Adults.

Negative age-stereotypes can have widespread effects on older adult functionality; however, no research has explored psychophysical aspects of stair navigation after exposure to stereotype priming. The present study examined self-efficacy and biomechanics related to stair navigation in older adults (N = 90). Between-groups analyses revealed positively primed older adults ascended and descended the stairs significantly faster with greater velocity in the medio-lateral plane than older adults who received a negative prime or controls (p < .017). Moreover, negatively primed older adults rated their stair self-efficacy significantly lower compared with the control and positively primed groups (p < .017). These results suggest positively primed older adults can navigate stairs with more confidence, quickness, and efficiency. With implications for interventions aimed at maintaining older adult functionality, the present study highlights the potential benefits of positive age-stereotypes, especially related to challenging physical tasks.

Exploring Stereotypes of Athletes With a Disability: A Behaviors From Intergroup Affect and Stereotypes Map Comparison.

Identifying as a regular exerciser has been found to effectively alter stereotypes related to warmth and competence for adults with a physical disability; however, it remains unclear how sport participation can influence this trend. Therefore, this study aimed to examine warmth and competence perceptions of adults with a physical disability portrayed as elite and nonelite athletes relative to other athletic and nonathletic subgroups of adults with and without a physical disability in the context of the stereotype content model. Using survey data from able-bodied participants (N = 302), cluster analyses were applied to a behaviors from intergroup affect and stereotypes map for displaying the intersection of warmth and competence perceptions. The results demonstrated that adults with a physical disability who are described as elite athletes (i.e., Paralympians) are clustered with high warmth and high competence, similar to their able-bodied athletic counterparts (i.e., Olympians). The findings suggest that perceiving athletic and elite sport statuses for adults with a physical disability may counter the stereotypes commonly applied to this group.

Masters or pawns? Examining injury and chronic disease in male Masters Athletes and chess players compared to population norms from the Canadian Community Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the optimal type and amount of activity for the maintenance of function in older adults has proved challenging. On the one hand, Masters Athletes have been proposed as the ideal model of successful aging but most of this research has focused on physical functioning. On the other hand, the importance of cognitive engagement has been emphasized, which may be more strongly related to activities such as playing chess. The current study aimed to compare physical health outcomes (i.e., prevalence of physical injury and chronic disease) among older athletes and chess players. Masters Athletes and chess players were recruited from track and field and chess competitions within the province of Ontario. In addition to these primary groups, moderately active and inactive older adults from Canadian Community Health Survey were also included for comparison. RESULTS: Masters Athletes had significantly higher rates of injury with the lowest rates of chronic disease, compared to all other activity groups. In contrast, chess players reported lower rates of injury compared to Masters Athletes as well as lower prevalence of chronic diseases compared to the moderately active and inactive groups. The normative groups reported the lowest rate of injury, but increased prevalence of chronic diseases compared to Masters Athletes and chess players. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate that both athletic and cognitive engagement may be positively related to the physical health of older adults, since Masters Athletes and chess players reported a lower prevalence of chronic disease. Importantly, the results expand our current understanding of health by providing evidence for physical health outcomes associated with an activity that is primarily associated with cognitive health.

Curling for Confidence: Psychophysical Benefits of Curling for Older Adults.

While physical activity is increasingly promoted for older adults, there is a paucity of sport promotion, which has distinct benefits from exercise and remains stereotypically associated with younger age. Curling is a moderately intense and safe sport that continues to gain popularity; however, no research has investigated psychophysical benefits of curling for older adults. The present study compares high-experience (20+ years; n = 63) and low-experience (<20 years; n = 53) curlers (aged 60+ years) with older adult noncurlers (n = 44) on measures of daily functionality, balance confidence, and perceptions of the aging process. While no significant differences were found between high- and low-experience curlers, any level of experience reported significantly better functionality, physical confidence, and aging attitudes compared to noncurlers (p ≤ .05). Although further research is necessary, the results suggest that any level of curling experience can enhance older adult psychophysical well-being, and warrants consideration for physical activity promotion and falls prevention programs.

Psychosocial development through Masters sport: What can be gained from youth sport models?

Although sport participation is encouraged throughout the lifespan, little research has been conducted on the role of sport in development later in life. This qualitative study explored adults' experiences of development within the context of Masters sport. We interviewed 14 adults (nine men and five women) aged 46-61 years involved in Masters sport. Data was interpreted drawing upon frameworks from youth sport (i.e., Personal Assets Framework for Sport; Côté, J., Bruner, M., Strachan, L., Erickson, K., & Fraser-Thomas, J. (2010). Athletes' development and coaching. In J. Lyle & C. Cushion (Eds.), Sport coaching: Professionalism and practice (pp. 63-83). Oxford, UK: Elsevier, Côté, J., Turnnidge, J., & Evans, M. B. (2014). The dynamic process of development through sport. Kinesiologia Slovenica, 20(3), 14-26, Côté, J., Turnnidge, J., & Vieerima, M. (2016). A personal assets approach to youth sport. In K. Green & A. Smith (Eds.), Routledge handbook of youth sport (pp. 243-255). New York, NY: Routledge; 4/5Cs of positive youth development; Lerner, R. M., Fisher, C. B., & Weinberg, R. A. (2000). Toward a science for and of the people: Promoting civil society through the application of developmental science. Child Development, 71(1), 11-20. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00113; Vierimaa, M., Erickson, K., Côté, J., & Gilbert, W. (2012). Positive youth development: A measurement framework for sport. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 7(3), 601-614. doi:10.1260/1747-9541.7.3.601), combined with past research on mid-life and older athletes. Six key themes emerged as contributing to adults' personal development through sport: competence and confidence, character, commitment, connection, cognition, and challenge. Masters sport contexts appeared to facilitate changes in assets (i.e., 6Cs) similar to those within youth sport, but assets often held different meanings within the context of later life. Applying frameworks from youth sport and developmental psychology to Masters sport contexts appears useful. The current findings support the modification of existing models and highlight their potential in identifying lifelong developmental outcomes of sport participation.

Balance is key: Exploring the impact of daily self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviours on the subjective health status of older adults.

Research has identified physical activity and sedentary behaviours as independent predictors of successful aging; however, few studies have explored interactions between these constructs in relation to older adult health. The present study utilized data from the General Social Survey (Cycle 24) to calculate proportion of time engaging in sedentary and physically active behaviours during waking hours, and examined its impact on self-rated health and physical health limitations (e.g., difficulty walking) in older adults (N=3557; ≥65years). Results suggest this proportion has a significant impact on three health measures; as proportion of daily minutes becomes more physically active or less sedentary, the better one's health status tends to be. Specifically, the proportion was positively associated with self-rated general health (ORPoor-Excellent=17.57; p<0.05) and self-rated mental health (ORPoor-Excellent=4.68; p<0.05). Reporting health limitations was less likely to occur with increases in the proportion (OR=0.30; p<0.05). These findings suggest the need for further examining daily time-balances between physical activity and sedentary behaviours in order to create a comprehensive health profile for older adults.

Leisure-time Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Older People: The Influence of Sport Involvement on Behaviour Patterns in Later Life.

Given the dramatic demographic change underway in most industrialized nations, the health of older adults is a major concern, particularly given the prevalence of sedentary behaviours and physical inactivity among ageing populations. Researchers have suggested sport participation in later life promotes other health-related behaviours, however, these relationships are poorly understood. It is possible for individuals to be classified as sufficiently active and still spend most of their day involved in sedentary pursuits. Moreover, there is little information on older sport participants' use of time compared to leisurely active or inactive peers and whether type of physical activity involvement is associated with differences in older adults' behaviour patterns. With this in mind, data from 1,723 respondents (65 years and older) who completed the sport module of the 2010 Canadian General Social Survey-Time Use were used to investigate the influence of physical activity involvement (competitive sport vs. non-competitive sport vs. physically active leisure vs. inactivity) on time spent in leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Results indicated that competitive sport participants spent less time engaging in sedentary behaviours compared to the physically active leisure or inactive respondents; however, sport participants (both competitive and non-competitive) also spent less time engaging in leisure-time physical activities than the physically active leisure group. Implications of these findings to assumptions related to the activity levels of older sport participants, suggestions for future research, and considerations for sport-related interventions aimed at enhancing health in older adulthood are discussed.

Painful Choices: A Qualitative Exploration of Facilitators and Barriers to Active Lifestyles Among Adults With Osteoarthritis.

Research has indicated physical activity and exercise can effectively attenuate biopsychosocial osteoarthritis-related symptoms in adults, more so than other management strategies; however, both leisure and structured physical activity are scarcely recommended by health care providers, and remain rarely adopted and adhered to in this patient population. Using qualitative interviews, the present study investigated potential facilitators and barriers to physical activity for adults with osteoarthritis. Fifteen participants (30-85 years of age) with osteoarthritis engaged in semi-structured interviews, which focused on experiences with physical activity/exercise, daily osteoarthritis management, and experiences with health professionals' recommendations. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that pain relief, clear health-related communication, and social support facilitated physical activity. Physical pain, psychological distress, and inadequate medical support were the most frequently expressed barriers. The present study supports the biopsychosocial nature of osteoarthritis, which may have important implications for advancing exercise as an effective and long-term intervention strategy in aging adults with osteoarthritis.

Physical activity, age, and arthritis: exploring the relationships of major risk factors on biopsychosocial symptomology and disease status.

The prevalence of arthritis in aging populations continues to rapidly grow. Research has highlighted 2 principal risk factors for progression of arthritis-related biopsychosocial symptoms: age and physical inactivity. This study examined the relationship between and within physical activity and age on biopsychosocial symptoms of arthritis in adults (age ≥ 30 yr). Hierarchical, multiple-regression analyses were conducted on the Canadian Community Health Survey (Cycle 4.2, 2009-2010, N = 19,103). Results revealed that more-active adults had significantly fewer symptoms (physical unstd. B = -.23, p ≤ .001; pyschosocial unstd. B = -.51, p ≤ .001). In addition, as age increased, physical symptoms intensified and psychosocial symptoms tapered (physical unstd. B = .24, p ≤ .001; psychosocial unstd. B = -.45, p ≤ .001). Inactive older adults had the highest level of physical symptoms, while inactive younger adults had the highest level of psychosocial symptoms (p ≤ .001). Findings highlight the need to target physical activity interventions to specific age cohorts and particular biopsychosocial symptomologies.

Mood Disorders among Older Adults Participating in Individual and Group Active Environments: "Me" versus "Us," or Both?

Involvement in physical activity is associated with improved mental health including better social skills, coping mechanisms, and lower rates of depression. However, evidence on whether group or individual active environments better facilitate these benefits remains inconsistent. This cross-sectional cohort study examined the mental health reports of older adults (aged 50+) in relation to participation in group or individual active environments. Logistic multivariate regression analyses were conducted on the Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 4.1, 2007-2008, n = 44, 057). Results illustrated that those active in both group and individual environments were 59% less likely to have a mood disorder than those who were not participating in either (P < 0.001). Also, those active in both environments were 31% less likely to have a mood disorder than those active in an individual environment (P < 0.001). Participating in only group or only individual environments had a similar effect compared to individuals not active in any environments for reducing rates of reported mood disorders (22% and 28%, resp.). However, the findings related to only group environments were not significant. These findings reveal that participating in both group and individual physical activities may have important implications for maintaining older adults' mental health status.