Motivação para a prática esportiva e nível de autocuidado em idosos praticantes de exercício físico

Abstract

To guarantee benefits related to the practice of physical exercise in the elderly, effective engagement in these activities is necessary, which is directly related to the level of self-care and motivation to practice sports in these individuals. Even so, there is a lack of studies that identify how the relationship of these variables occurs in physically active elderly people. Thus, the objective of this research was to investigate the reasons for sports and the level of self-care in elderly individuals who practice physical exercise at the University of Maturity. The research is a cross sectional, quantitative study that included elderly individuals from the University of Maturity, Campus de Palmas-TO, investigated in relation to their socioeconomic characteristics, motivation to practice physical exercise through an adapted questionnaire and level self-care by the Appraisal the Self-care Agency Scale questionnaire. The population studied was composed mostly of retired women, with a median age of 68 years, with an optimal level of self-care, in which the practice of exercise is motivated by factors such as improved performance, feeling of pleasure, improved quality of life and health status. This study may serve as a basis for the elaboration of health education actions for the elderly, in order to guarantee the maintenance and adherence to sports practice programs for this target audience. This is adjuvant, after all, the literature points out the benefits of sports practice for longevity with quality of life and health.