Exploring experiences of recreational tennis among women in mid and later life

Woo, Mina

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125809 Copy

Description

Title

Exploring experiences of recreational tennis among women in mid and later life

Author(s)

Woo, Mina

Issue Date

2024-07-11

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Liechty, Toni

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Liechty, Toni

Committee Member(s)

• Sato, Mikihiro
• Ostler, Teresa
• Son, Julie S

Department of Study

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Aging
• Health
• Later Life
• Midlife
• Sense Of Community
• Tennis
• Wellbeing
• Women

Language

eng

Abstract

While women in mid and later life participate in recreational sports, they extend social relationships, enhance quality of life and self-esteem, have physical improvements, and embrace aging positively. Despite the benefits, older women have some of the lowest rates of sport participation and report many age and gender-related constraints. In addition, limited research exists to explore women in mid and later life engaging in diverse types of recreational sport. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of women in mid and later life who play recreational tennis regarding their life stage, perceived benefits and constraints, and sense of community, using a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation were conducted to understand why women play tennis, what is the role of life stage in their tennis experience, how they experience sense of community, and what perceived benefits and constraints they have while playing tennis. Participants shared a feeling of sense of community with their teammates and tennis community through emotional safety, influencing other members, competing with others, and sharing memorable events together, which promoted their ongoing tennis engagement. In addition, the findings suggested that life transitions, events, and factors have influenced tennis participation across the life course. Particularly, participants’ tennis engagement has been influenced by historical context, timing, agency, and linked lives. Lastly, participants described ways that tennis positively and/or negatively influences body image and vice versa. Even though some participants had constraints in playing tennis related to aging and body image, they tried to overcome those through negotiation. Overall, this study expands the literature on leisure and sport among women in mid and later life by exploring recreational tennis experiences among women in mid and later life. Furthermore, this study contributed to expanding theories, such as Sense of Community theory (SOC), Sense of Community in Sport theory (SCS), life course perspective, and objectification theory by providing insights into a recreational sport setting.

Graduation Semester

2024-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125809

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 Mina Woo

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