Understanding motivations of older adventurers.

Abstract

Globally the population is ageing, people are living longer and birth rates continue to decline. While an ageing population is viewed as a positive societal achievement, reporting of the exponentially ageing demographic is predominantly negative. For example, the increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), increased burden on the health system and the drain on the system (Freeman et al., 2016; Coughlin, 2017; Honore, 2018). Authors suggest that this negative reporting is at best demotivating and worst self-prophesying (Sun, Norman and While, 2013; Lamont, Swift and Abrams, 2015; Robertson et al., 2015; Pikhartova, Bowling and Victor, 2016; Coughlin, 2017). While, governments, academics and health professionals recognise the health benefits of physical activity (PA) for older adults and specifically the benefits of outdoor activity, reports indicate a decline in PA as people age (Taylor, 2013; Chastin et al., 2015; Bauman et al., 2016; Ding et al., 2016). Consequently, there is a need for relevant, innovative approaches to PA engagement that address the physical, social and mental health needs of participants (Devereux-Fitzgerald et al., 2016; Forberger et al., 2017). Outdoor adventure activities (OAA) has the potential to address these needs and can be adapted to suit the abilities and interests of the older person (Buckley, 2018). Currently, there is a gap in research exploring motivations of older adults’ to participate in OAA globally (Sugerman, 2001; Naidoo et al., 2015; Hickman et al., 2018) specifically, there is a lack of research in this area in the Republic of Ireland. Exploration of the why, what, where, how, the physiological and psychological benefits that older adults get through engagement in OAA will provide data that can be used to understand older adults’ motivations, decrease negative stereotyping and perhaps motivate others. Initial exploratory research was conducted in three states; stage 1, looked at perceptions of older adults OAA. Stage 2, included a small number of providers (n=4) and their perceptions of older adults and adventure activity. Stage 3, the current stage, represents an exploration of the motivations of older adventurers to engage in their activities.