Date of Award

Fall 2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Exercise Science

Director of Thesis

Sara J. Corwin, MPH, PhD

First Reader

Kara Montgomery, MEd, Dr.PH

Abstract

Through my academic and personal experiences as a student at the University of South Carolina, I developed an interest to research the effects of golf on the mental health of older adults. Physical activity can have many positive results on older adults, including increased cardiorespiratory fitness, decreased risk of chronic diseases, increased longevity, and improved memory and cognition. Golf may be a suitable form of physical activity for older adults, but the relationship between golf and the mental health of older golfers must be investigated. Through a literature review and content analysis of secondary sources, this thesis intends to determine the effects of golf on the mental health of older adults. Through this review, golf was found to increase memory and cognition, strengthen self-efficacy, treat and prevent anxiety disorders, treat and prevent depressive symptoms, provide a social network for interaction and support, and positively affect moods and attitudes for older adults. However, there are risks to playing golf, including the risk that performance can affect post-round moods and attitudes. Poor performances could be associated with poor moods for older golfers. Based on the results of the content analysis, a discussion on the effects of golf occurs, and these results and discussion guide the proposal of a future study on the link between performance and moods in older golfers. This future study could help fill gaps in the existing literature and further investigate the effects of golf on the mental health of older adults.

First Page

1

Last Page

48

Rights

© 2020, Robert K. Upton III

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