تعامل نسل‌ها در ورزش سالمندی: آزمون تجربی مدل مدیریتی در بستر فرهنگ ایرانی

Extended Abstract

Introduction

The global phenomenon of population aging has made the health and well-being of older adults a critical public health priority. Regular physical activity is widely recognized as one of the most effective strategies for maintaining functional independence, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, and enhancing psychological and social well-being in later life. Within this context, intergenerational physical activity- defined as structured or spontaneous exercise programs that bring together older adults and younger generations- has gained increasing attention. Such programs not only improve physical health but also foster social cohesion, reduce age-related stereotypes, and strengthen family bonds. However, the successful implementation of intergenerational sports programs is deeply embedded in cultural contexts. In Iran, traditional values such as respect for elders, strong family ties, and religious and national rituals offer unique opportunities and challenges for promoting active aging. Despite the growing body of literature on elderly sports management, a comprehensive, empirically validated model that integrates intergenerational physical activity with the cultural characteristics of Iranian society has been lacking. The present study was designed to address this gap by validating a paradigmatic model of elderly sports management with a focus on intergenerational physical activity within the context of Iranian culture. The model was initially developed through a qualitative grounded theory approach, and this quantitative phase aimed to test its structural relationships and overall fit.

Methods

This study employed a descriptive-survey design within a quantitative research framework. The statistical population comprised three main groups chosen to balance academic, theoretical, and practical perspectives: (1) university faculty members in sports management, gerontology, sports sociology, and related fields with research or teaching experience in elderly or public sports; (2) sports management graduates (master’s and doctoral levels) with solid theoretical knowledge of sports management and aging; and (3) practitioners in the field of elderly and public sports, including official elderly-sports coaches, experts from the State Welfare Organization, managers and instructors of retirement centers, staff of daycare and rehabilitation centers for older adults, key volunteers from NGOs and charities active in aging, and municipal experts in public sports and elderly recreation. The inclusion criterion for the third group was at least three years of direct executive, educational, or managerial involvement in sports, movement rehabilitation, or leisure programs for older adults. A stratified random sampling method was used to ensure proportional representation from these three strata. The sample size was determined using G*Power software (version 3.1.9.7) with an effect size of 0.15, a power of 0.80, and an alpha level of 0.05 based on 20 predictor variables (derived from the qualitative phase), yielding a minimum of 157 participants. To enhance analytical precision, 200 questionnaires were distributed, and after screening for incomplete or biased responses, 180 valid questionnaires were retained for final analysis. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 60 items, each rated on a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). The questionnaire was constructed based on the 20 subcategories and five main constructs of the paradigmatic model derived from the qualitative phase: (1) causal conditions, (2) contextual conditions, (3) intervening conditions, (4) action/interaction strategies, and (5) consequences. Eight items were reverse-scored to control for response bias. Content validity was assessed by a panel of 10 experts using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI); the overall CVI was 0.83, indicating satisfactory validity. Construct validity was examined through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using SmartPLS 4.1.0.9 with the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR), with all values exceeding the 0.60 threshold. Convergent validity was confirmed by Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values above 0.50 for all constructs, and discriminant validity was established using the Fornell-Larcker criterion, as the square root of AVE for each construct exceeded its correlations with other constructs. Model fit was assessed using the Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR), the squared Euclidean distance (d_ULS), and the coefficient of determination (R²). Finally, path coefficients and t-values were computed to test the hypothesized structural relationships.

Results

The demographic profile of the sample (Table 3) showed a relatively balanced gender distribution (56.1% male, 43.9% female), with the majority aged 31–40 years (40.6%). Most participants were married (62.8%) and held graduate degrees (master’s: 43.9%; doctoral: 37.8%). Regarding occupational status, the largest group was practitioners in elderly and public sports (51.7%), followed by sports management graduates (32.2%) and university faculty members (16.1%). The predominance of practitioners reflects the applied nature of the research topic and indicates that most respondents possessed not only theoretical knowledge but also direct practical experience in elderly sports programs.

The measurement model demonstrated good psychometric properties. All constructs showed CR and Cronbach’s alpha values above 0.60, and AVE values ranged from 0.505 to 0.872, exceeding the 0.50 threshold. Discriminant validity was confirmed for all constructs. The overall model fit indices indicated a very good fit: SRMR = 0.036 (well below the 0.08 threshold) and d_ULS = 0.113 (below the 0.20 cut-off).

Structural model analysis revealed significant and strong relationships among all constructs (P < 0.001). Causal conditions, comprising individual/family barriers and structural/cultural barriers, had a significant positive effect on the core phenomenon of “elderly sports management with a focus on intergenerational physical activity in the Iranian cultural context” (β = 0.820, t = 23.857). The core phenomenon, in turn, exerted a very strong and significant effect on action/interaction strategies (β = 0.960, t = 9.420), indicating that a clear and institutionalized central phenomenon is a powerful driver of practical strategies. Contextual conditions—including the physical-environmental context, socio-cultural fabric, social acceptance of family-based physical activity, and demographic features—significantly influenced strategies (β = 0.721, t = 8.315). Intervening conditions—encompassing economic/structural factors, family dynamics, gender barriers, intergenerational gaps, managerial efficiency, technology and media roles, institutional capacity, social empowerment of older adults, and shared facilities—had a similarly significant effect on strategies (β = 0.726, t = 8.448). Finally, the strategies, which included social institutionalization of intergenerational physical activity, utilization of cultural and spiritual capital, structural and executive empowerment, and cultural guidance and attitude change, significantly predicted the multidimensional outcomes (β = 0.730, t = 7.540). Among the outcome dimensions, the social and intergenerational consequences exhibited the highest factor loading (0.954), followed by physical (0.879) and psychological (0.867) outcomes. The high R² values for the outcome components (ranging from 0.752 to 0.910) confirmed the substantial explanatory power of the model.

Conclusion

This study successfully validated a comprehensive, multi-level model of elderly sports management that places intergenerational physical activity at its core within the distinctive cultural framework of Iran. The findings confirm that the phenomenon is not a linear, one-dimensional process but a complex system shaped by an intricate interplay of causal, contextual, and intervening conditions. These conditions collectively drive the formulation of targeted strategies, which in turn lead to a holistic improvement in the quality of life of older adults across physical, psychological, and, most prominently, social and intergenerational dimensions. The exceptionally strong effect of the core phenomenon on strategies underscores the necessity of formally recognizing and institutionalizing intergenerational elderly sports as a distinct policy priority. The significant influence of contextual and intervening conditions highlights the need for a supportive physical infrastructure, positive cultural norms, economic accessibility, gender-sensitive programming, and robust institutional governance. From a practical standpoint, the validated model provides a scientifically grounded framework for policymakers, urban planners, and sports administrators. It recommends strengthening neighborhood-based exercise facilities, training specialized geriatric sports coaches, launching media campaigns to reshape societal attitudes towards active aging, and creatively leveraging Iran’s rich cultural and religious traditions to normalize family-based physical activity. Future research could focus on longitudinal assessments of such interventions and comparative studies across different cultural settings to further refine the model’s scope and applicability.

Footnotes

Funding

This research did not receive any financial support from governmental or private organizations.

Authors’ contribution

1. M: contributed fully to all phases, including conceptualization, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, drafting, and final editing.
2. Y: as supervisor, played a key role in designing the theoretical framework, supervising the data analysis, and providing scientific review of the manuscript. A.F: as advisor, contributed to enriching the theoretical foundations and validating the findings. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors explicitly declare that there is no conflict of interest in this research.

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank all the university faculty members, sports management graduates, and elderly sports practitioners—including coaches, experts from the State Welfare Organization, retirement center managers, caregivers, NGO volunteers, and municipal specialists—who patiently participated in the interviews and completed the questionnaires. Their valuable cooperation made this research possible