Experiences of Pleasure during Physical Activity in Later Life: A Systematized Scoping Review

Physical activity (PA) offers several benefits that promote the health of older adults; however, PA participation is low within this population. Supporting PA participation is a priority. This study aim was to synthesize existing definitions of pleasure used in older adult PA research and to describe how PA pleasures are experienced in later life. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Guidelines. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed studies that directly assessed experiences of pleasure regarding the PA of older adults aged 60+ years. A search was conducted across eight databases, yielding 1,058 results. A total of 35 articles were eligible. Findings highlighted the importance of pleasure as a meaningful PA motivator and identified various typologies of PA pleasures. Findings clarify the role of pleasure in future PA research and support the inclusion of pleasure to PA applied practice to enhance PA participation in later life.