Abstract
The world’s population is aging at such a rate that persons over 65 now outnumber children under 5, representing one of the most significant social transformations in the 21st century. Sport and physical activity play a key role in helping people to adapt to their aging bodies, while societies adapt to their changing demographics. This chapter examines key social models, theories, and methods in understanding these trends, paying particular attention to the experiences of those living with dementia and the need for researchers to adapt their methodology to be appropriate to the older adults they are researching. The case is made that citizens of most countries have a responsibility to adapt to being members of an aging society, that sport can make a positive contribution to the process of adaptation, and that effective adaptation will take place only if it is multifaceted, multilevel, and multipartnered.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Oxford Handbook of Sport and Society |
| Editors | Lawrence Wenner |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) |
| Chapter | 38 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-0-19-751901-1 |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Sept 2022 |