The Effects of Park Golf Participation by Gender on Loneliness, Self-Efficacy, and Health Inequality among the Elderly

This study aimed to analyze the effects of Park Golf participation, based on gender, on loneliness, self-efficacy, and health inequality among the elderly. To this end, a single-group pre-post test design was applied to 40 elderly individuals who were new to Park Golf, and an 8-week program was conducted, leading to the following conclusions. First, while there was no interaction effect between gender and time on the elderly's loneliness, there were significant differences over time in loneliness, social support, and social network. This indicates that Park Golf participation had a positive impact on alleviating loneliness among the elderly. Second, there was a significant interaction effect between gender and time in self-efficacy, specifically in self-acceptance, where female participants showed relatively greater improvements compared to male participants. Third, there was a significant interaction effect between gender and time on mental health inequality, where male participants experienced greater positive changes in mental health compared to female participants. In conclusion, Park Golf and similar sports activities can effectively help alleviate social isolation, improve self-efficacy, and reduce health inequalities among the elderly. Therefore, the expansion and support of Park Golf programs could play an important role in enhancing the quality of life for the elderly.