Content Analysis of Iranian Scientific Journals in the Field of Elderly Physical Education

Very little research has been conducted on the content analysis of studies related to the elderly. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape and offer structured insights into this area. The research focuses on the content analysis of Iranian journals of physical education in the context of elderly individuals. This quantitative, applied research is based on content analysis and adopts a descriptive approach. The statistical population includes geriatric research published in Iranian physical education journals from 1993 to 2021. The research tool is a researcher-developed checklist, validated by ten professors, with a reliability coefficient of 0.97 using the Holsti formula. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software. The findings revealed 213 relevant studies, with the majority published in the Motor Behavior journal. The most prevalent topic, constituting 30% of the articles, pertains to sports physiology, while biomechanics and management topics are less frequently addressed. Nearly all articles (99%) have a practical purpose and predominantly feature quantitative data. The quasi-experimental method is the most commonly used (76.05%), with training protocols being utilized in 81.22% of cases. Non-random sampling is the most frequently employed method, accounting for 53.52% of cases. Geographically, Tehran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Isfahan provinces have the highest publication shares. SPSS software (73.23%), one-factor analysis of variance, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical methods are the most prevalent analytical tools used by researchers. The research conducted in Iranian physical education journals regarding the elderly does not comprehensively cover the literature in this domain. Consequently, to advance knowledge in this area, it is crucial to conduct diverse research across all regions, as well as to employ descriptive and qualitative methods more extensively. It is anticipated that over time, publications will increasingly address the challenges and opportunities faced by the elderly, adopting a more forward-looking approach in this field.