MOTIVOS DA BAIXA PARTICIPAÇÃO DE HOMENS IDOSOS EM UM PROJETO DE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA

This is a qualitative and exploratory study that aimed to map the reasons for the low participation of men in a university extension project called “Without Borders: bodily activities for mature and elderly adults”, developed at the Federal University of Parana. We developed individual or focus group open interviews with 16 men who attended the project, four former participants and three men who had never participated in the project, but had heard of it through their wives. The main reasons for the low participation are: they tend not to identify themselves with the interests of the predominantly female participants; they do not want to expose the limitations related to their aging; they seek to avoid commitments to mandatory activities; they are not attracted by the nature and intensity of the activities offered. This work offers information to support the planning of physical activity projects that aim to attract the male audience.