Importance of playing pickleball for older adults’ subjective well-being: A serious leisure perspective

The Current Status of Leisure Constraints, Leisure Sports Behaviors, and Active Aging Among Chinese Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Against the backdrop of China's active response to population aging, an increasing number of older adults are participating in leisure sports activities to enrich later life and experience active aging. However, when participating in these activities, older adults encounter constraints that affect their leisure sports behaviors.

METHODS

To understand the current state of leisure constraints, leisure sports behaviors, and active aging among Chinese seniors, we collected 1,581 surveys from older adults in Zhejiang Province, China. A stepwise regression model was used to explore the relationships between leisure constraints and leisure sports behavior as well as between leisure sports behavior and active aging.

RESULTS

The respondents' leisure sports were characterized by light-intensity, moderate duration, high-frequency, and long-term participation with various leisure constraints, such as a lack of organized leisure sports activities. However, the respondents reported that their aging status was positive. Leisure constraints were negatively associated with leisure sports behavior, and self-constraint had a significant impact on leisure sports behavior. Leisure sports behavior positively affected the active aging of older participants and was positively associated with the four subdimensions of active aging: health, participation, security, and lifelong learning.

CONCLUSION

High-frequency and long-term participation in leisure sports is an effective strategy for Chinese seniors to promote active aging. However, there are still many constraints that limit the leisure sports behaviors of older adults.

IMPLICATIONS

The findings may inspire Chinese older adults to achieve active aging through leisure sports and provide support for the literature.

Pickleball Participation and the Health and Well-Being of Adults-A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Pickleball has grown tremendously in recent years, yet little evidence exists regarding pickleball-related injuries. This scoping review extends current work on pickleball participation by identifying positive and negative health effects associated with the sport. We summarize how pickleball impacts the health and well-being of adult participants.

METHODS

Searches were conducted on MEDLINE, CINAHL, ProQuest Nursing, ERIC, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, Scopus, CBCA Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Selected studies considered aspects of health and/or well-being of adult pickleball participants. Using the population/concept/context framework, participants were healthy, able-bodied adults 18 years of age or over, who had played pickleball at least once. The positive and negative outcomes of pickleball on participants' health and well-being (concept) within the context of pickleball participation were examined. Full-text articles written in English since 2013 were included. Extracted data were tabulated, and a descriptive summary with thematic analysis was completed.

RESULTS

This scoping review comprised 27 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Pickleball is promising as an exercise intervention for all adults, and there is evidence of positive social and psychological effects, and health and fitness benefits to participating in pickleball by older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we are still in the early stages of studying pickleball, there have been some documented health benefits of using the sport as a physical exercise intervention for adults. More research is needed on the types, prevalence, and severity of pickleball injuries and the sport's impact on younger players.

The Subjective Experiences of Driving Cessation and Life Satisfaction

Compared to the driving group, the driving cessation group in this study was found to be a high-risk population in terms of their life satisfaction. This study evaluated data from 315 older adults, aged 55 or older, using the 2018 Korean Older Adults Driving and Mobility Service Trend Survey. These data were collected from 17 representative cities and provinces in South Korea. To minimize the potential for selection bias and the confounding factors inherent in observational studies, this study employed the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Following the matching, multivariate regression analyses were conducted to compare the driving cessation group (n = 65) with the driving group (n = 50) in terms of their life satisfaction. After adjusting for demographic and health-related variables, the older adults who had ceased driving were found to have lower life satisfaction (Coef. = -1.39, p-value = 0.018). Our results highlight the importance of establishing preliminary evidence to guide the development of tailored programs for older adults-especially for those likely to experience diminished life satisfaction and heightened risk-to address the mobility challenges stemming from driving cessation.

Pickleball and mental health in adults: A systematic review

Introduction

Physical activity has been extensively studied and numerous mental health benefits have been found. Pickleball is an emerging racquet sport, which is characterized by its accessibility to all audiences and has become especially popular in the United States among the elderly. It is a novel team game and its inclusive nature is innovative for health improvement. The purpose of this systematic review was to review and evaluate existing studies that have examined the effects of pickleball on the mental and psychological health of individuals.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted on articles found in Scopus, PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science (WoS), PsyINFO, Dialnet, and Elton B. Stephens Company (EBESCO) from 1975 to the present. The keywords used was a five combination between "Pickleball" joint with different terms by the connector AND, the second part of the combo could be "mental disorder" OR "anxiety" OR "depression" OR "psychological health" OR "mental health." Eligibility criteria included: papers focused on pickleball, in English or Spanish, on mental health variables, without establishing an age range. We excluded duplicate works, without access or that did not address the objective of this study.

Results

The search resulted in 63 papers, of which 13 were selected. A total of 90.74% of the population were people over 50 years of age. The results show significant improvements in the different psychological variables measured in pickleball practitioners: personal wellbeing, life satisfaction, depression, stress, happiness, etc., pickleball shows potential as a new tool to work and improve people's mental health.

Conclusions

The pickleball is displayed as an inclusive sport that does not need adaptations, resulting of great interest to be worked in different populations with mental problems.

The Effect of Playing Gateball Sports on Older Chinese People's Wellbeing in the Context of Active Aging-Based Mediation of Social Capital

Participation in gateball sports may improve the well-being of older individuals in the context of active aging. However, the mechanisms of the effect need a social viewpoint. A random sample of 337 valid data points was gathered from seven cities in the Chinese province of Hunan. Structural equation modeling, fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, and other techniques examined the standard structure and causal links between involvement in gateball sports, social capital, and elderly people's well-being. According to structural equation modeling, playing gateball sports may improve elderly people's well-being, and social capital may influence this link to some extent. The engagement in gateball sports and social capital work in concert to promote well-being, according to a qualitative comparative study of the fuzzy sets that identified four patterns of "A, B, C, and D" antecedent constructs that do so in elderly people.

Physical Activity Intensity of Singles and Doubles Pickleball in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to measure heart rate, activity intensity, and steps in recreational singles and doubles pickleball players. We collected data in 22 singles and 31 doubles players (62.1 ± 9.7 years of age) using Garmin Fenix 5 watches (Garmin International, Inc.) and ActiGraph GT3X+ (ActiGraph LLC) accelerometers. Mean heart rates during singles and doubles were 111.6 ± 13.5 and 111.5 ± 16.2 beats/min (70.3% and 71.2% of predicted maximum heart rate), respectively. Over 70% of singles and doubles playing time was categorized in moderate to vigorous heart rate zones whereas 80.5% of singles time and 50.4% of doubles time were moderate based on Freedson accelerometer cut-points. Steps per hour were higher in singles versus doubles (3,322 ± 493 vs. 2,791 ± 359), t(51) = 4.540, p < .001. Singles and doubles pickleball are moderate- to vigorous-intensity activities that can contribute substantially toward older adults meeting physical activity guidelines.

Sport: A Holistic Approach to Lifestyle Medicine

Sport represents a holistic health tool that unifies multiple pillars of lifestyle medicine. Sport can mitigate both the ongoing health disparities in communities that were present before COVID-19 and those exacerbated after COVID-19. The significance of this recommendation is highlighted by the impact sport participation has on creating healthy relationships, managing stress, and delivering physical activity among diverse populations. Importantly, sport can offer meaning and value to its participants, particularly when COVID-19 has limited people's ability for purposeful activity and social interaction. Clinicians are urged to consider the broad utility of sport for the prevention and treatment of unhealthy behaviors.

Pickleball, Personality, and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

This study explored how personality and serious leisure activities, such as playing pickleball, contribute to eudaimonic well-being in middle-aged and older adults. Data were collected at pickleball events at the 2017 Huntsman World Senior Games from a convenience sample of 250 players aged between 50 and 91 years (M = 65.11, SD = 7.49). Of the five personality dispositions examined, conscientiousness (β = 0.32, p < .001), neuroticism (β = −0.22, p < .01), and openness to experience (β = 0.18, p < .01) were discovered to be significant predictors of eudaimonic well-being. Serious leisure also contributed to eudaimonic well-being (β = 0.28, p < .01). The findings of this study enhance the understanding of the behaviors exhibited by older adults and elucidate the positive impact exerted on eudaimonic well-being by personality and serious leisure.

Non-fatal senior pickleball and tennis-related injuries treated in United States emergency departments, 2010-2019

BACKGROUND

Pickleball is growing rapidly with a passionate senior following. Understanding and comparing players' injury experience through analysis of a nationally representative hospital emergency department sample helps inform senior injury prevention and fitness goals.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed using 2010 to 2019 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Tennis was selected for comparison purposes because of the similarity of play, occasional competition for the same court space, and because many seniors play both sports. Non-fatal pickleball and tennis-related cases were identified, examined, recoded, and separated by injury versus non-injury conditions. Since over 85% of the pickleball injury-related cases were to players ≥60 years of age, we mostly focused on this older age group. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, injury frequency, type and trends over time, and comparative measures of risk.

RESULTS

Among players ≥60 years of age, non-injuries (i.e., cardiovascular events) accounted for 11.1 and 21.5% of the pickleball and tennis-related cases, respectively. With non-injuries removed for seniors (≥60 years), the NEISS contained a weighted total of 28,984 pickleball injuries (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19,463-43,163) and 58,836 tennis injuries (95% CI = 44,861-77,164). Pickleball-related injuries grew rapidly over the study period, and by 2018 the annual number of senior pickleball injuries reached parity with senior tennis-related injuries. Pickleball-related Slip/Trip/Fall/Dive injury mechanisms predominated (63.3, 95% CI = 57.7-69.5%). The leading pickleball-related diagnoses were strains/sprains (33.2, 95% CI = 27.8-39.5%), fractures (28.1, 95% CI = 24.3-32.4%) and contusions (10.6, 95% CI = 8.0-14.1%). Senior males were three-and-a-half times more likely than females to suffer a pickleball-related strain or sprain (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% CI = 2.2-5.6) whereas women were over three-and-a-half times more likely to suffer a fracture (OR 3.7, 95% CI = 2.3-5.7) compared to men and nine times more likely to suffer a wrist fracture (OR 9.3 95% CI = 3.6-23.9). Patterns of senior tennis and pickleball injuries were mostly similar.

CONCLUSIONS

NEISS is a valuable data source for describing the epidemiology of recreational injuries. However, careful case definitions are necessary when examining records involving older populations as non-injury conditions related to the activity/product codes of interest are frequent. As pickleball gains in popularity among active seniors, it is becoming an increasingly important cause of injury. Identifying and describing the most common types of injuries may can help inform prevention and safety measures.

"When I Sing, I Feel Peaceful": Experiences of Older Choral Singers From North Korea

North Korean (NK) defectors fled their homeland and traveled thousands of miles in search of a better life. This qualitative study explored the experiences of older NK defectors who were part of a serious leisure choral group. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight NK defector members of a South Korean choir group, from which four central themes emerged: (a) conquering adversity and promoting health; (b) making good friends and having great adventures; (c) providing an arena to develop a new identity; and (d) developing proficiency through vigorous efforts. Involvement in choral singing as a serious leisure activity assisted the members in overcoming the various adversities they were facing, promoted their physical and mental health, and helped them develop comradery and new social identities.

Older women's perspectives on leisure commitment for coping with chronic illnesses

Commitment to leisure is recognized as an important aspect in understanding older adults' leisure behavior. Older adults' participation in Flow and Balance (FAB) is an exemplary instance of such engagement. We interviewed 11 older women who participate in FAB to explore how this experience contributed to coping with chronic illnesses. Our analysis revealed six central themes: (a) overcoming adversities; (b) investing personal effort; (c) stages of a leisure career; (d) health benefits and belongingness; (e) developing a special social world; and (f) centrality in life. Our findings emphasize the pivotal role of committed leisure in successful aging among older women.

Examining the Motivation and Perceived Benefits of Pickleball Participation in Older Adults

Pickleball, a paddle sport that combines aspects of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, is one of the fastest growing sports in America. The sport is especially popular with older adults as it provides a means for both competition and exercise. Limited research is available on the motivation and perceived benefits of participants in this unique and growing community. A total of 3,012 participants completed a survey instrument that included items from the Sport Motivation Scale, the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, and the Quality and Importance of Recreational Services. Participants reported being more task oriented than ego oriented, suggesting that pickleball may effectively satisfy the need for persons to be engaged in physical activities that allow for the ongoing development of personal mastery. This finding is supported by respondents noting that their primary motivation to participate in pickleball involved mastering difficult training techniques. However, participants cited competition as the top perceived benefit to their participation. This result supports two possible conclusions that motivation and benefit are different and potentially disconnected constructs or that the benefit of competition among this sample of older persons is understood through the lens of personal mastery, whereby the demonstration of that mastery is only possible through competition.

Psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults: a systematic review

Sport participation is well known to promote health outcomes for children and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence about the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults. This article provides the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social outcomes of sport participation for older adults. A systematic review of seven electronic databases was conducted and a total of 21 studies published that attended to psychological and/or social health benefits from sport participation of older adults (50 years old and over) were included. The outcomes of older adults’ sport participation included life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, stress, mood state, hedonistic values, socialisation, competition, and personal psychological outcomes such as personal empowerment, self-confidence, self-esteem and resistance to the negative view of ageing. Future studies are needed to conceptualise and operationalise the different levels of involvement of sport participation.

Psychological Connection to Pickleball: Assessing Motives and Participation in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to examine psychological connection to the sport of pickleball by investigating active older adults (55 years and older) in relation to behavioral involvement and motives for participation. Data were collected via an online survey of a representative sample of active pickleball players in North Carolina (N = 690). The psychological continuum model (PCM) categorized players into four distinct connection levels of Awareness, Attraction, Attachment, and Allegiance. Participants on each PCM level were analyzed based on playing length, play frequency, and motivations for participation (Competition, Diversion, Fitness, Skill Mastery, and Socialization). Results showed respondents at the highest PCM levels have played pickleball for at least 1 year and play at least 10 times per month. Although Fitness and Socialization were reported as the most important motives for the entire sample, Competition and Skill Mastery were viewed significantly higher for respondents at higher PCM levels.

Interaction of Physical Activity and Personality in the Subjective Wellbeing of Older Adults in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom

Subjective wellbeing (SWB) has been widely accepted as one of the most important elements of successful ageing. The present study explores the impact of two well-established correlates of SWB: physical activity and personality. Physical activity and each of the Big Five personality traits are consistent predictors of SWB, but there has been little research on whether certain personality traits enhance or hinder the psychological benefits of physical activity in older adults. This study examines the interactions of leisure-time physical activity and personality traits on SWB, and whether such interactions vary between older adults in Hong Kong (HK) and older adults in the United Kingdom (UK). Altogether, 349 participants (178 HK, 171 UK; 157 males, 192 female) aged 50 years or above (mean age = 61.84 ± 8.46 years old) completed an online assessment of: (1) leisure-time physical activity (Godin⁻Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire); (2) personality traits (Big Five Inventory); and (3) SWB (Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). Results showed that agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, and physical activity were all significantly related to SWB in the expected direction. The relationship between physical activity and SWB was moderated by extraversion and by openness to experience: higher levels of these two traits significantly enhanced the relationship. None of the interactions varied between the HK and UK samples. The expected negative relationship between neuroticism and SWB, however, was significantly stronger in the UK sample than in the HK sample. The findings of the present study indicate that personality needs to be considered when promoting and providing physical activity for older adults, although more research is needed to further explore how this can work effectively.