To Örebro University

The number of people aged 60 years and over has doubled since 1980and the World Health Organization predicts that the population of over60s will reach 2 billion by the year 2050. An ageing population poses bothchallenges and opportunities for society and for individuals. Whilst theseare positive statements, increases in life spans do not directly lead to increasesin health spans. The naturally occurring ageing process can leadto reductions in functionality and, in order to address this, scholars haveargued the benefits of regularly engaging in physical activity, and especiallyresistance training. Therefore, an important challenge for modernsociety is to develop strategies that delay the onset of disease, such as interventionsthat include physical activity. This licentiate thesis investigatesolder women’s physical activity in a resistance training context and howthis affects different aspects of their health.The overall aim of the thesis is to explore healthy and physically activeolder women’s experiences of what maintains and enhances their healthafter starting resistance training.This thesis used a quantitative and a qualitative approach to investigatea group of old adult women. Data collection was structured in questionnaires(n=32) with one intervention group and one control group for thepaper I, and focus group interviews (n=14) in paper II. Paper I studied theeffects of resistance training on physically active and healthy olderwomen. Paper II relates to the women who continued to exercise after theresistance training intervention ended in order to explore their health resources.The theoretical framework used in this thesis is a movement towardshealth as explained by salutogenic theory.This thesis showed that resistance training has positive effects on psychologicalwell-being and is important because it not only benefits thosewho are physically inactive, but also those who are already physically activeand healthy.From a salutogenic perspective, physical activity provides a meaningful,comprehensible and manageable way for older women to engage in theongoing process of maintaining health.

This thesis examines older adults’ participation in physical activity, and is framed within a salutogenic theory regarding ageing well, or as others say, healthy ageing. Ageing well can be studied in numerous ways. Since this thesis is within the field of Sport Sciences, different physical activity initiatives for older adults are in focus. Population ageing is a global trend andrepresents a major societal challenge. Societies that adapt to this changing demographic situation and invest in healthy ageing or in how people can age well may enable people to live longer and healthier lives and reduce the burden of disease and disabilities. Therefore, strategies that offer environments that contribute to keeping people active are something that societies should prioritize. Current knowledge on issues relating to an ageing population are often based on an understanding of what causes illness, rather than what promotes health. Against this backdrop, it is essential to investigate those who are regularly physically active.  

The overall aim of the thesis is to contribute knowledge about older adults’ participation in sport and physical activity initiatives. The thesis will further contribute knowledge about who participates in the initiatives and what characterizes the different initiatives they participate in. This will be explored using salutogenic theory in relation to ageing well.  

Main findings are that older adult women and men are partly drawn to different physical activities and social relations were the most meaningful health resource. In conclusion, engaging in physical activity increases the odds of maintaining well-being in later life and of ageing well. Thus, offering and increasing physical activity is one way of meeting the challenge of an ageing population in society. From a salutogenic perspective, physical activity carried out to provides a meaningful, comprehensible and manageable way for older adults to engage in the ongoing process of maintaining health.