Instructors in organized physical activity classes can be a source of social support through their relationships with participants, influence on participants' interactions with each other, and design of activities. Grounded in interpretive description, the objective of this study was to examine older adults' experiences of and their perspectives on group physical activity instructors' supportive behaviors. Observations of 16 group physical activity classes (N = 295) and focus groups or interviews with N = 38 class participants aged ≥ 55 (n = 29 women) were conducted at four municipal recreation facilities in a Canadian city. Five themes shed light on how instructors provided social support: (a) supporting autonomous engagement, (b) developing caring connections, (c) fostering trust through expert instruction, (d) managing conflict directly and effectively, and (e) creating a climate where people want to go. Instructor training should consider older adults' social support needs and help instructors embody behaviors that support continued physical activity participation, thereby contributing to healthy aging.

中文翻译：

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团体体育活动中的教练社会支持：老年参与者的观点。

有组织的体育活动课程中的教练可以通过他们与参与者的关系、对参与者之间互动的影响以及活动的设计来成为社会支持的来源。基于解释性描述，本研究的目的是调查老年人对团体体育活动教练支持行为的体验和看法。在加拿大某城市的四个市政娱乐设施中，对 16 节团体体育活动课程（N = 295）和焦点小组进行了观察，或对 N = 38 名年龄 ≥ 55 岁的课程参与者（n = 29 名女性）进行了访谈。五个主题阐明了讲师如何提供社会支持：(a) 支持自主参与，(b) 发展关爱联系，(c) 通过专家指导培养信任，(d) 直接有效地管理冲突，以及 (e) 营造氛围人们想去的地方。教练培训应考虑老年人的社会支持需求，并帮助教练体现支持持续参与体育活动的行为，从而有助于健康老龄化。