O Lazer, uma resposta para o envelhecimento ativo: um estudo na região Alentejo

Serious Leisure can smooth the effects of demographic aging and so contribute to an active and positive aging. In this thesis we study the role of leisure in the context of population aging in the Alentejo Region, namely: i) draw the profiles of individuals aged 65+ years who are not institutionalized according to the five dimensions used, ii) analyze the relationship between the practice of leisure activities and attitudes towards leisure with quality of life, social and emotional loneliness, subjective well-being, and active ageing in this individuals; iii) draw profiles on the opinions and knowledge of representatives of local authorities and protagonists responsible for defining and applying social responses for individuals aged 65+ years about aging and attitudes towards leisure; and iv) suggest proposals for a leisure social policy to aging contexts. We chose a Mixed methods methodology: i) survey by questionnaire to 709 individuals aged 65+ years who are not institutionalized; ii) questionnaire to 41 representatives of local authorities; iii) interviews and focus group to 34 protagonists representatives of local authorities and protagonists. Quantitative data were processed with the programs Exel, SPSS 26.0, latentGOLD 5.0, AMOS 25.0. It is concluded that leisure is relevant for 65+ individuals and that there is a need for training of representatives of local authorities and protagonists responsible for defining and applying social responses for individuals aged 65+ years; leisure directly influences the AE and contributes to life satisfaction; Quality of Life contributes to AE and has a mediating effect on the effect of the Cognitive Component of Leisure on AE; Social and Emotional Loneliness has a mediating effect on the effect of the Cognitive Component of Leisure on the Ability to Act and on the Frequency of Action; Life Satisfaction has a mediating effect on the effect of the Cognitive Component of Leisure on the Will to Act and on the Frequency of Action. As it is so important for these territories, general lines for a leisure policy proposal are suggested.