Psychoanalytic Approach to Sports as an Anti-aging Activity

This master's thesis is devoted to the study of interrelations and psychoanalytic aspects associated with choosing sports as an anti-aging activity during the midlife crisis. The midlife crisis has been extensively discussed in various psychological approaches including psychoanalysis. However, the relationship between the three components-psychoanalytic perspective, midlife crisis, and sports as a means to go through it-has not yet been presented in the psychoanalytic field. Objectives of the study are as follows: to examine the approach to the anti-aging terminology and anti-aging activity in different spheres of human activity, identify the problematics of mental aspects of the midlife crisis and related changes, study the features of sports activity in terms of psychoanalysis, and explore the potential of psychodynamic approach regarding the motivation to choose sports as an anti-aging activity; to identify with the help of empirical research how the choice of sports activities during the midlife crisis is reflected in going through it, how it helps on the physical level (body acceptance, functionality, etc.) and on the mental level (effect on intrapsychic processes). The study reveals that doing sports during the midlife crisis is a way of picking a fight against aging (anti-aging activity), a response to intrapsychic processes related to aging and the perception of one's own body, and, depending on the intensity of exercise, a model of acceptance, avoidance, or denial of one’s own changes develops during the midlife crisis. An analysis of the physical activity patterns of clients can provide additional information to the psychoanalytic coach. Moreover, being aware of the relationship specifics between sports and the midlife crisis, the coach can suggest to the client an activity suitable for achieving the goals of coaching.