Abstract des Autors

The purpose of this study was to assess rural older adults´ perceptions of leisure-time physical activity and examine these perceptions from a historical perspective. Semistructured interviews were conducted with ten inhabitants (mean age 82 years) of Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to inductive analysis. Member checking interviews were conducted with five participants. Findings indicated that beginning in childhood, participants were socialized into a subculture of work activity. As a result of these historical and social forces, leisure-time physical activity did not form part of the participants´ lives after retirement. Strategies for successful aging involved keeping busy, but this “busyness” did not include leisure-time physical activity. Results demonstrated the importance of developing a broader understanding of how past and present-day contexts can influence participation in leisure-time physical activity. Verf.-Referat