As contribuições de atividades físicas e de lazer no incremento das relações psicossociais dos idosos

Abstract

This literature review study has as its main objective to verify, through the analysis of scientific studies in the National literature, if the leisure activity practices can contribute to the psychosocial changes on the elderly. This research was conducted by means of electronic and manual search in indexed databases. The articles published in the past ten years in Portuguese were prioritized; 9 out of 99 articles were selected. The keywords used were: elderly, leisure and physical activity. The results have shown a great number of practices of leisure activities performed by the elderly, in the physical, occupational, social and cultural field. The elderly revealed in an implicit and or explicit way that they are searching for the fulfillment of their free time, in an attempt to minimize the undesirable ageing effects. Regardless of the emphasized area, these activities are practiced in groups and stimulate and favor their motor, cognitive, affective and social skills. It can be concluded that it is of great importance the development of these experiences, as they themselves promote important psychosocial gain to these individuals.