Narratives of Ageing and Physical Activity: Are there Alternatives to Ageing-as-Decline? Dr Adam Evans

Physical activity in later life is often promoted for its potential physical, psychological and social benefits for older adults. However, sometimes these programmes, despite good intentions, can perpetuate negative stereotypes about ageing and youthful ideas about good life. Have we forgot to ask old people themselves how and why they are (not) active?

As our guest explains, ageing is not only a physical and psychological phenomenon, but also a cultural phenomenon. Cultural narratives including ageing-as-decline, successful ageing and active ageing can have significant consequences on how we make meaning of later life.

In this episode, we ask critical questions about what is ageing, who is an older person, and what implications different physical activity campaigns for older adults might have.

Dr Adam Evans is currently an Associate Professor in Sociology of Sport at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport (NEXS) at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the current director of the Sport, Health and Innovation research group at NEXS, and is Editor in Chief of the European Journal for Sport and Society (www.tandfonline.com/toc/ress20/current). His research interests cohere around understanding the lived experiences of sport, physical activity amongst several groups, including older adults and those with specific health needs, together with work in swimming and aquatic activity.