“Like fine wine!”: Senior models5 perspectives on serious leisure and successful aging

“Like fine wine!”: Senior models5 perspectives on serious leisure and successful aging

Literature has revealed the positive impact of serious leisure among older adults. As serious leisure involves productive engagement and commitment, performing as a senior model reflects serious leisure participation of older adults, which might ojfer a new insight in promoting healthy lifestyles. While many studies have been conducted in the context of leisure behavior of older adults, a study is yet to explore the behavior of senior models. This study aimed to contribute to the theoretical knowledge regarding older adults in serious leisure settings and understand the experience of senior models. We conducted a series of face-to-face interviews with 31 participants. Interview questions focused on the participants perception as senior models and the meaning of being senior models. The ages of the participants ranged from 54 to 85 次(Mean age = 66.9). The constant comparison method was applied to continuously compare the views and experiences of the participants. Two central themes that shaped the participants ’ senior modeling experiences were identified: (1) the benefits of senior modeling and (2) the costs of senior modeling. Under each theme, several sub­ categories were identified: confidence, stylish and ageless, friendships, painful training and investing efforts, barriers associated with aging, and structural constraints. The findings obtained in this study highlight the important link between serious leisure and successful aging. Considering the benefits identified by the study participants, it is suggested that engaging in senior modeling positively affects older adults ’ quality of life.