Identifying and prioritizing the effective factors in the development of games and sports for elderly

Participation of the elderly in leisure sports activities with a game approach, leads to improving their quality of  life and by creating motivation and hope, moderates the inertia created in old age. The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize the effective factors in the development of games and sports for the elderly.

The present study was conducted with a mixed approach (qualitative and quantitative) in the period of February 2020 to May 2020. The qualitative research was exploratory with a qualitative content analysis approach that was conducted  through interviews with the focus group. Data were analyzed by using open, axial and selective coding in MAXQDA 10 software. In the quantitative part, in order to prioritize the factors, the network analysis process (ANP) technique and Super Decisions software version 2.8 were used.

The findings of this study identified 4 main categories and 8 general categories, which are: game and sports design, benefits of games and sports, requirements for game and sports development and types of games. Cultural factor with a normal weight of 0.329 in the first place and  then  the development factor by private and public sector with a normal weight of 0.212, design factor of principles and rules with a normal weight of 0.113, community and elderly interaction factor with a normal weight of 0.110, game equipment design factor And exercise with normal weight 0.087, physical and mental health factor with normal weight 0.069, physical play factor with normal weight 0.046 and mental play factor with normal weight 0.030, were included.

According to the findings of this study, with the correct culture around games and sports, the participation of the elderly in active leisure can be provided. Also, the development of facilities by the private and public sectors must be implemented.