The NSGA (National Senior Games Association) governs the biennial summer National Senior Games,the largest multi-sport event in the world for individuals 50 and older.. Every state in the United States run annual competitions and those who qualify at the state level are eligible to compete in the national games. Previous study on Senior Games participants showed that being actively involved in the games was essential to promoting the health and independence of the older adults (Henderson & Wilson, 2009). This study employed mixed-methods design and unfolded in two phases. In the present study, the purpose of Phase One was to qualitatively explore the behavior of Indiana Senior Games participants associated with personal and social benefits. Phase Two involved the analysis of perspectives from college students who participated in structured service learning opportunities at the Indiana Senior Games.
Method:
Phase One: Ten in-depth interviews were conducted using both purposeful and snowball sampling. The average age of study participants was 63 years of age, ranging from 52 to 71. With the use of an interview guide, a series of open-ended questions sought to explore participants’ involvement with the Senior Games and issues of well-being. Data were coded and later analyzed using the constant comparative method (Merriam, 1998).
Phase Two: Students from a Midwestern state university participated in a service learning project to assist with running the Indiana Senior Games, and they were asked to write reflection papers at the end of the event. Content analysis was used to analyze 41 reflection papers.
Analysis/Results:
Interviews from the Senior Games participants identified a number of personal and social benefits such as goal setting, physical fitness, enhanced self-image, enjoyment, and social belonging and interaction. Analysis of reflective essays revealed that college students were able to enhance self-esteem and social responsibility through participating in the Senior Games service learning project.
Conclusions:
Consistent with the results from previous studies which suggested that competition in athletic events provides both personal and social benefits among older adults (Siegenthaler & O’Dell, 2003). This study also highlighted that service learning opportunities with older adults in the sport setting is a promising practice for undergraduate students. Students were able to collaborate with a local professional agency, and played an important role in facilitating the Senior Games.