Boxing has emerged as a beneficial form of physical activity (PA) for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Research typically emphasizes the physical benefits of boxing for individuals with PD but neglects other aspects that could promote long-term engagement in such programs. This study qualitatively explored the experiences of individuals with PD who are engaged in a boxing program. A qualitative phenomenological methodology was utilized. Twelve participants took part in a semi-structured interview. Data were thematically analyzed. Analysis revealed that participants experienced a variety of physical, social, and psychological aspects. Findings suggest that participants perceived increases in physical abilities and concentration through prolonged engagement in the program and social support upon recently joining the program. Other themes were also uncovered such as coming out of isolation, relatedness, escapism, and sense of accomplishment. The knowledge generated from this study can be valuable for health professionals seeking to design and implement specialized PA programs to improve the health of individuals with PD.

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Participation in collegiate intramural sports provides numerous, positive psychological benefits for its participants. Benefits of participation in intramural programs include improved happiness and subjective well-being which can be operationalized as one's positive affective state. The purpose of this study was to determine the affective outcomes (positive and negative affect) of intramural sport participation in a collegiate setting. Students at a Canadian university ( N = 315) completed a questionnaire immediately following their participation in an intramural sport. Overall, and across all demographic variables, participants reported significantly higher levels of positive affect than negative affect, even for all levels of task- or ego-orientation (low, medium, and high). A MANOVA revealed significant differences between the three levels of task-orientation on positive affect but not negative affect. These results are promising indicators of students' continued sport participation on campus and later in life as intramural sport participants report experiencing significantly more positive affect than negative affect.

This study contributes to the limited existing research on the participation patterns of Cypriots in leisure and sports. Leisure and sport are viewed collectively while adapting the notion put forth by The Council of Europe (2007) defining leisure sports as sports activities aimed at the preservation and improvement of physical condition, health and fun. The purpose of this paper is to examine the leisure sport participation patterns of Cypriots, specifically: (1) participation patterns in leisure sports, (2) reasons for participating in leisure sports, (3) cost and participation in leisure sport, (4) leisure sport spectatorship, and (5) vacationing and leisure sport experiences. Data was commissioned and collected by the Centre for Leisure, Tourism and Sports (University of Nicosia) for the Cyprus Sport Organisation. A telephone-survey of 1000 Cypriots, men and women, aged 15+, from coast-to-coast in Cyprus using stratified random sampling was employed. The sample was weighted by gender, age, district and region of residence. The results indicate that: (1) almost half of the Cypriot population participates in leisure sports, (2) participation in leisure sports decreases with age, (3) participation in leisure sports tends to be driven by health benefits, (4) most Cypriots participate in leisure sport at no cost, (5) television is the most common means reported for spectatorship, and (6) some Cypriots plan their vacations around leisure sport experiences. The results indicate the relevant importance of the leisure sport culture in Cyprus while also reflecting on age and cost related factors that may influence participation in leisure sports.

IntroductionA few decades ago, ageism was seen as an unpleasant social problem in many countries around the world, and the sight of a group of older men or women playing sports or jogging down the street would have been strikingly unusual (Butler 1969; Lagacé 2015). Prevailing socio-cultural attitude at the time reinforced the perception that older adults near, or at, retirement, were expected to retreat into a quiet and inactive life