Author(s)

MengLong Xiao^*, Zulezwan Bin Ab Malik, Omar Firdaus Bin Mohd Said, BaoWen Shao

Affiliation(s)

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim 35900, Perak, Malaysia.

Corresponding Author

MengLong Xiao

ABSTRACT

With the accelerating aging population in China, promoting elderly participation in leisure physical activities (LPA) has become a critical public health priority. This mixed methods study investigates the leisure sports preferences, constraining factors, and the role of cultural identity among elderly residents in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou—a core area of Lingnan culture. Quantitative data from 400 participants and qualitative insights from 20 in-depth interviews reveal three key findings: (1) Cultural identity, particularly emotional attachment to Lingnan traditions, significantly predicts preferences for culture integrated activities. (2) Constraints vary by subgroup: older seniors (≥80 years) face prominent health barriers, solitary dwellers struggle with safety concerns, and no Cantonese speakers encounter language related information gaps. (3) Targeted interventions, including culturally adapted activity designs and multilingual support, effectively enhance participation rates. These findings highlight the need for context sensitive strategies that bridge cultural heritage with elderly health needs.

KEYWORDS

Elderly; Leisure physical activities; Cultural identity; Constraints; Guangzhou

CITE THIS PAPER

MengLong Xiao, Zulezwan Bin Ab Malik, Omar Firdaus Bin Mohd Said, BaoWen Shao. Leisure physical activities among elderly in Yuexiu district, Guangzhou: preferences, constraints, and cultural embeddedness. World Journal of Sport Research.2025, 3(1): 30-38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/wjsr3010.

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