O basquete máster e as relações de estilo e qualidade de vida no envelhecimento

Abstract

Physical activities are an important strategy to improve health and life quality of individuals. Sports in oldness are presented as an alternative for physical inactivity and they are related to the recommendations proposed by WHO through the promotion of active aging, assessing it as a positive process, minimizing the physiological aspects of oldness and optimizing a better life quality with welfare and pleasure. Basketball as a team sport stimulates socialization as well as cooperation and search for problem solution, thus motivating the elderly to accept and learn from their new limitations and individual differences observed on the rest of the team. In this sense, study is to identify the relations between lifestyle and life quality in elderly who are veteran basketball players. This study is descriptive and quali-quantitative with non-probability sampling. Data were collected through Whoqol-old questionnaires, the Pentacle Welfare model and a sociodemographic questionnaire devised by the authors. In addition to a pictorial representation of the group’s Pentacle, the data were tabulated with descriptive statistics and presented in charts. To analyze the data, Spermann correlation was applied for categorical and/or classificatory variables found in the relation of instruments, and Pearson correlation was applied in cases of linear numerical variables. The participants comprised sixteen (16) male basketball players with average age of 66,75 years old. They are higher-educated (43,75%), are either married or in a stable union (81,25%), have two children (37,5%), are homeowners (93,75%), are currently employed (31,25%) and receive four to six monthly minimum wages (37,5%). The finds point out to strong and statistically significant correlations between autonomy and social relationship variables (r=0,650; p=0,009), social engagement and social relationship (r=0,684; p=0,005), death/dying and stress (r=0,620; p=0,014), and the total of Whoqol-old and social relationship (r=0,630; p=0,012). The data showed that practicing basketball has positive influences in elderlies’ lifestyle and life quality, thus enabling a lifestyle profile that is favorable for active aging, which reinforces the positive characteristics in the face of oldness. The characteristics of lifestyle profile and the strong correlations found in the group, such as good social relationships and promotion of autonomy, are functional benefits provided by the practice of physical activities. In addition, they are also means of satisfaction and self-esteem for the elderly, thus being favorable for a better health self-rating. Basketball practice and its continuity favors the maintenance of physical and mental health, socialization, friendship and life satisfaction. This specific sport represents passion, hobby, discipline, pleasure, joy and welfare, for its players – all fundamental characteristics of searching for the construction of a universal philosophy on the aspects of successful aging.