TY - JOUR
T1 - The nature of family influences on sport participation in Canadian Masters athletes
AU - Dionigi, Rylee
AU - Fraser-Thomas, Jessica
AU - Logan, Jane
N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: Journal title (773t) = Annals of leisure research. ISSNs: 1174-5398;
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the nature and source of family influences on sport participation in Masters athletes of varying skill and training commitment levels (from recreational to elite competitors). Participants were 14 married adults (nine men and five women) aged 46'61 years (M=50) from Ontario, Canada. Ten from the group had teenaged or university-aged children. Semi-structured interviews were aimed at understanding the role of family members in the athletes' sport involvement, the athletes' experiences of family support, absence of support, and family conflicts. Key themes in the data were: spousal (and children's) support by 'allowing' (i.e. not questioning or complaining about sport participation); scheduling (as a source of, and to avoid, conflict) with spouse; spouses (and parent/children) training together/training separately; and the indirect influence of children. This study shows that both positive and negative forms of family support can be negotiated to allow for ongoing sport participation in mid-later life. It brings together insights from research on the leisure constraints negotiation process, family and leisure participation, gender issues in leisure, and social support in sport and physical activity contexts.
AB - The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the nature and source of family influences on sport participation in Masters athletes of varying skill and training commitment levels (from recreational to elite competitors). Participants were 14 married adults (nine men and five women) aged 46'61 years (M=50) from Ontario, Canada. Ten from the group had teenaged or university-aged children. Semi-structured interviews were aimed at understanding the role of family members in the athletes' sport involvement, the athletes' experiences of family support, absence of support, and family conflicts. Key themes in the data were: spousal (and children's) support by 'allowing' (i.e. not questioning or complaining about sport participation); scheduling (as a source of, and to avoid, conflict) with spouse; spouses (and parent/children) training together/training separately; and the indirect influence of children. This study shows that both positive and negative forms of family support can be negotiated to allow for ongoing sport participation in mid-later life. It brings together insights from research on the leisure constraints negotiation process, family and leisure participation, gender issues in leisure, and social support in sport and physical activity contexts.
KW - Open access version available
KW - Middle-age
KW - Older adults
KW - Physical activity
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Social support
U2 - 10.1080/11745398.2012.744274
DO - 10.1080/11745398.2012.744274
M3 - Article
VL - 15
SP - 366
EP - 388
JO - Annals of leisure research
JF - Annals of leisure research
SN - 1174-5398
IS - 4
ER -