Designing a model of physical activity of Iranian women in leisure time at different stages of life

The purpose of this study was to theorize and designing a model of physical activity of Iranian women in leisure time at different stages of life. The research method was Grounded Theory, systematic approach. Sampling was also theoretical. Data analysis was performed through continuous "questioning" and "comparison". In order to achieve saturation while reviewing about 300 research articles, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 136 Iranian women aged 7-78 who were regularly participate in physical activity in addition to 17 mothers and 6 fathers. At the end of the open coding stage, 12 main categories were identified and physical activity was selected as the central category. At the end of the selective coding stage, a conceptual model for the whole life stages and a diagram of the amount of physical activity in different stages of life were designed. The main differences between the conditions of Iranian women for physical activity in different stages of life were also identified. Findings showed that mother in childhood, father in adolescence, personal motivations in adolescence, fear in middle age and children in aging stage are the most important drivers of Iranian women to do physical activity. It was also found that the level of physical activity of Iranian women in different stages of life fluctuates for various reasons, so that at the end of childhood is at its highest and at the time of "reproduction and child care" and "old age" is at its lowest.