Quality of life and physical activity in elderly people. A survey in an italian physical and sport training center

The article presents the results of the qualitative survey "Quality of life and physical activity in Elderly People" which aimed to investigate the influence of physical activity in the QdV of the el derly. Five focus groups have been carried out to know the opinion of 35 participants of an exercise program in an Italian physical and sport training center. For content analysis, we applied the dimen sions of the quality of life of Schalock and Verdugo's scale. The survey showed how participation in this physical activity program has allowed participants to counteract the occurrence of physical and physiological limitations of age; it has fostered processes of personal and community empower ment, positively affecting aspects related to the emotional and psychological dimension, the devel- 426 opment of self-esteem and self-efficacy, the management of relational dynamics and promoting par ticipation and the establishment of meaningful relationships both with instructors experienced in motor science and with other members of the group. With regard to the dimension of social inclu sion, a fundamental element for the promotion of active ageing, the survey also highlights how this is the outcome of an effective educational process, promoted by sports educators and therefore by pedagogically competent motor science experts