Study shows skateboarding boosts happiness and wellbeing in middle aged people

[Tear Up a Trick]

It only took til your 40s, but now you have a legitimate reason to skate.  Merry Christmas.

https://planetradio.co.uk/free/uk/news/skateboarding-boosts-wellbeing-and-happiness-in-middle-age-says-study/

[MaXX_I-D]

Damn, looks like I’ll be depressed until I’m 40.

[Cuban_Lynx]

I wanna be this guy when I grow up

[somefucker]

you didn't stop skating because you got old, you got old because you stopped skating

[conqueso]

weird that people get paid to study things that are entirely fucking obvious

[layzieyez]

Playing with a toy in middle age brings you joy. The fuck kinda research does that require to come to that conclusion?

[TunnelVision1]

I wanna be this guy when I grow up

keemstar?

[jgonzalez]

weird that people get paid to study things that are entirely fucking obvious

Not sure if it’s a study. Seems like self published anecdotal evidence

https://www.routledge.com/Lifestyle-Sports-and-Identities-Subcultural-Careers-Through-the-Life-Course/Dupont-Beal/p/book/9780367355999

Tldr no shit being social and active has benefits

[pizzafliptofakie]

[TheLurper]

O'Connor wrote a book on skateboarding and religion, which was pretty cool and he's a part of the Pushing Boarders thing, so he usually is pretty good.

And, I think this isn't saying "OMG skateboarding makes someone happy, who would have guessed?" it is saying, "Of course skateboarding makes people happy, but let's look at the unique motivations and reasons older dudes skateboard [rather sit on their asses and watch football all day like most boring ass adults]."

[SatanicPanic]

O'Connor wrote a book on skateboarding and religion, which was pretty cool and he's a part of the Pushing Boarders thing, so he usually is pretty good.

And, I think this isn't saying "OMG skateboarding makes someone happy, who would have guessed?" it is saying, "Of course skateboarding makes people happy, but let's look at the unique motivations and reasons older dudes skateboard [rather sit on their asses and watch football all day like most boring ass adults]."

Exactly

"One reason could be because the measure of success in skateboarding is more fluid compared to other sports, and failure is seen as part of the activity."

Like this!

[GardenSkater77]

I doubt they took loosing 360 flips into account. That shit is straight up depressing…

[Mike Oxwelling]

Here to state a "study" with an N of 30 has no statistical significance.   At all. 

[pointandclick]

this is something ive been involved with for the last few years. some of it just makes sense especially if youve found skating to be therapeutic or a stress reliever. this is just a formal way to get funding for the project and help outsiders understand what skating can do.
my homie joel is leading the project, they have researched into the effects of skating different centers of the brain and are growing the project each year.



can someone help me with the embed?

[TheLurper]

Here to state a "study" with an N of 30 has no statistical significance.   At all.

I have a soft spot for qualitative research, especially ethnographic research (my undergrad degree was in a discipline that overlapped with anthropology).

The point of qualitative research (in the social sciences) isn't to find statistical significance but to develop theory, create ideas, and map out how life is lived, and so on. For ethnography, it shows all the ways that people live and offers depth into the various ways that people live rather than figuring out the percent of people who live in a certain fashion.

Some of the best social science studies were based on super small samples. They don't claim to be representative, but instead offer insight into the lives of different groups in society. In terms of ethnography, Code of the Streets, Street Corner Society, Wheeling and Dealing, Needed by Nobody, In Search of Respect, Cop in the Hood , and Manufacturing Consent are all amazing studies and super fun reads (even if they are depressing at times).

I feel some are reading this as a psychological study. I don't think this dude does psychology, I'm pretty sure he is a sociologist.

Note: I looked up the chapter... I'm not sure the papers says that skateboarding "boosts wellbeing" but instead shows how some people use skateboarding in middle-age. I think the website framed this in a way that is a bit misleading.

[RichardBarkley]

I doubt they took loosing 360 flips into account. That shit is straight up depressing…

[Algar]

I’d be much more curious to see what a study says about late thirty something’s that have gradually skated less and less with an accompanying declining skill level but the subjects do manage to spend an increasing amount of time on a niche, slightly antiquated forum revolving around skateboarding ….. curious what they would find?

But seriously a little jealous of people that dropped skating in their youth only to have this total “rediscovery of the joys of skating” while it’s kind of a grind for a lot of us that have stuck it out;  declining skill level, friends quitting, more responsibilities, gaining weight, staying motivated.  Yeah, skill levels probably higher if you didn’t quit but rediscovering your youth seems a lot funner than watching it slowly fade away.

[Madam, I'm Adam]

I’d be much more curious to see what a study says about late thirty something’s that have gradually skated less and less with an accompanying declining skill level but the subjects do manage to spend an increasing amount of time on a niche, slightly antiquated forum revolving around skateboarding ….. curious what they would find?

But seriously a little jealous of people that dropped skating in their youth only to have this total “rediscovery of the joys of skating” while it’s kind of a grind for a lot of us that have stuck it out;  declining skill level, friends quitting, more responsibilities, gaining weight, staying motivated.  Yeah, skill levels probably higher if you didn’t quit but rediscovering your youth seems a lot funner than watching it slowly fade away.

Damn dude, that's depressing haha.

I've skated consistently since the year 2000, and it's been good having a passion and something to keep me motivated and in shape, even if I suck.

The funny thing though is I don't see myself skating much in my 40s, since I'll have more responsibilities then (hope to raise a family soon). So it'll probably be hard to lose more tricks and not get out, but I'm sure I'll appreciate it even more at that time.

[chrisskates808]

you didn't stop skating because you got old, you got old because you stopped skating

Favorite quote from jay adams

[SatanicPanic]

I’d be much more curious to see what a study says about late thirty something’s that have gradually skated less and less with an accompanying declining skill level but the subjects do manage to spend an increasing amount of time on a niche, slightly antiquated forum revolving around skateboarding ….. curious what they would find?

But seriously a little jealous of people that dropped skating in their youth only to have this total “rediscovery of the joys of skating” while it’s kind of a grind for a lot of us that have stuck it out;  declining skill level, friends quitting, more responsibilities, gaining weight, staying motivated.  Yeah, skill levels probably higher if you didn’t quit but rediscovering your youth seems a lot funner than watching it slowly fade away.

Until you discover slappies

[rocklobster]

Expand Quote

I doubt they took loosing 360 flips into account. That shit is straight up depressing…

[close]

Can't lose 360 flips, if you never had them to begin with


Kickflips on the other hand would suck to lose, every session is a struggle to hold on to them.

Expand Quote

O'Connor wrote a book on skateboarding and religion, which was pretty cool and he's a part of the Pushing Boarders thing, so he usually is pretty good.

And, I think this isn't saying "OMG skateboarding makes someone happy, who would have guessed?" it is saying, "Of course skateboarding makes people happy, but let's look at the unique motivations and reasons older dudes skateboard [rather sit on their asses and watch football all day like most boring ass adults]."

[close]

Exactly

"One reason could be because the measure of success in skateboarding is more fluid compared to other sports, and failure is seen as part of the activity."

Like this!

A good session can be landing lots of tricks, learning new ones or having a chill one with friends. Regardless your life is better because of having done it.

[versacekid420]

rain makes the ground wet

[IUTSM]

I’d be much more curious to see what a study says about late thirty something’s that have gradually skated less and less with an accompanying declining skill level but the subjects do manage to spend an increasing amount of time on a niche, slightly antiquated forum revolving around skateboarding ….. curious what they would find?

But seriously a little jealous of people that dropped skating in their youth only to have this total “rediscovery of the joys of skating” while it’s kind of a grind for a lot of us that have stuck it out;  declining skill level, friends quitting, more responsibilities, gaining weight, staying motivated.  Yeah, skill levels probably higher if you didn’t quit but rediscovering your youth seems a lot funner than watching it slowly fade away.

idk man, sounds like you might benefit from a break??? Skating because it's a habit or solely as an identity piece or as something to do because you feel like you are required to for whatever reason, ain't no fun.

if you come back to it, you'll be doing it because it is fun...

[TastyBurrito]

you didn't stop skating because you got old, you got old because you stopped skating

I love it when you quote scripture.

[layzieyez]

I’d be much more curious to see what a study says about late thirty something’s that have gradually skated less and less with an accompanying declining skill level but the subjects do manage to spend an increasing amount of time on a niche, slightly antiquated forum revolving around skateboarding ….. curious what they would find?

But seriously a little jealous of people that dropped skating in their youth only to have this total “rediscovery of the joys of skating” while it’s kind of a grind for a lot of us that have stuck it out;  declining skill level, friends quitting, more responsibilities, gaining weight, staying motivated.  Yeah, skill levels probably higher if you didn’t quit but rediscovering your youth seems a lot funner than watching it slowly fade away.

I rediscover my youth every time I step foot on my board and land anything. I'm actually happy to do whatever gets landed as I get closer to 50. Also, it's amazing that I can still skate when one of the more memorable articles I read in my early formative years was one on professional skaters from the 1970s like Alva and Peralta skateboarding in their 30s.

My main motivation for maintaining any degree of physical fitness is to continue doing this. The meditative state required to focus on the now mid-trick is irreplaceable to me.

[LUGR]

I was pretty happy skating yesterday until a scooter kid tail whipped his scooter to turn it around into my shin as I skated passed him.

[Algar]

Expand Quote

I’d be much more curious to see what a study says about late thirty something’s that have gradually skated less and less with an accompanying declining skill level but the subjects do manage to spend an increasing amount of time on a niche, slightly antiquated forum revolving around skateboarding ….. curious what they would find?

But seriously a little jealous of people that dropped skating in their youth only to have this total “rediscovery of the joys of skating” while it’s kind of a grind for a lot of us that have stuck it out;  declining skill level, friends quitting, more responsibilities, gaining weight, staying motivated.  Yeah, skill levels probably higher if you didn’t quit but rediscovering your youth seems a lot funner than watching it slowly fade away.

[close]

idk man, sounds like you might benefit from a break??? Skating because it's a habit or solely as an identity piece or as something to do because you feel like you are required to for whatever reason, ain't no fun.

if you come back to it, you'll be doing it because it is fun...

Yeah, honestly I am being a bit dramatic and still enjoy it and feel grateful that I’m still able to be getting joy from skating.  I have been riding a wide ass board lately and it’s helped me to rediscover skating, spots and parks too.

I think I mostly am a bit jealous of people that get to have that magic rediscovered at a point….but I still get that too, if I didn’t I would move on, I have other hobbies and interests and skating is still pretty fucking cool to me either way

[dofrenzy]

Me….telling my story…..again…..been thinking a lot about this over the past few days.

I skated very little as a kid but was stoked on PP skull and sword graphic.  When I saw it on Amazon in my 40’s along with skull and snake I bought one of each thinking I might skate.  I skated those boards *maybe* for a half-hour total over 5 years.  The boards just sat unused in my garage.

As my 50th approached I planned on re-learning running up a tree/wall/ utility pole and back flipping, but it felt weak and I knew it would be easy for me.  At the same time I was discovering that there were skate parks EVERYWHERE.


Yadda, yadda, yadda, on the day of my 50th I went to the skatepark to learn to drop in.  I had no business being near ramps with my skateboard, but some of you know already, and others will discover, mid-life is a big deal in the mind.  On that day all I achieved was a drop-in to a 4-ft incline ramp, and not gonna lie I had some tears in my eyes from the combo of fear and excitement as I got nearer to getting it.  Fucking shit was SUPER scary for me, but I was obsessed with this goal for some reason.  I did NOT drop into the QP that day.

It took about 3 more weeks to get a successful QP drop.  I got many slams at first, but when I got it, I did 4.  Then I pushed for a bit and got 4 more…..ultimately getting 16 drop-ins dialed in that day.  I expected a BIG rush of excitement once I accomplished my goal but it just wasn’t there.  Maybe a little bit of satisfaction but overall a I had a sense of something larger, looming over this accomplishment.

I realized that what was a HUGE goal for me, to drop-in to a QP, was really not a goal in the big scheme of things.  I discovered that what I had learned was a skill that would launch me into other tricks.  As if my goal of dropping in was like setting a goal of learning how to draw an arrow back in a bow.  I knew that what I needed now was a target and to let fly.

So I returned to the park, drew the arrow back, aimed at the bullseye of a rock-fakie and let the arrow fly.  I immediately FUCKED my lower back with my worst back injury EVER and could barely function as a human for 6 weeks.

Then I returned and got better at skating and then FUCKED both knees for 15 months.

My rock-fakie, however, is *divine*.  Totally worth it.

[Cool Ceith]

Me….telling my story…..again…..been thinking a lot about this over the past few days.

I skated very little as a kid but was stoked on PP skull and sword graphic.  When I saw it on Amazon in my 40’s along with skull and snake I bought one of each thinking I might skate.  I skated those boards *maybe* for a half-hour total over 5 years.  The boards just sat unused in my garage.

As my 50th approached I planned on re-learning running up a tree/wall/ utility pole and back flipping, but it felt weak and I knew it would be easy for me.  At the same time I was discovering that there were skate parks EVERYWHERE.


Yadda, yadda, yadda, on the day of my 50th I went to the skatepark to learn to drop in.  I had no business being near ramps with my skateboard, but some of you know already, and others will discover, mid-life is a big deal in the mind.  On that day all I achieved was a drop-in to a 4-ft incline ramp, and not gonna lie I had some tears in my eyes from the combo of fear and excitement as I got nearer to getting it.  Fucking shit was SUPER scary for me, but I was obsessed with this goal for some reason.  I did NOT drop into the QP that day.

It took about 3 more weeks to get a successful QP drop.  I got many slams at first, but when I got it, I did 4.  Then I pushed for a bit and got 4 more…..ultimately getting 16 drop-ins dialed in that day.  I expected a BIG rush of excitement once I accomplished my goal but it just wasn’t there.  Maybe a little bit of satisfaction but overall a I had a sense of something larger, looming over this accomplishment.

I realized that what was a HUGE goal for me, to drop-in to a QP, was really not a goal in the big scheme of things.  I discovered that what I had learned was a skill that would launch me into other tricks.  As if my goal of dropping in was like setting a goal of learning how to draw an arrow back in a bow.  I knew that what I needed now was a target and to let fly.

So I returned to the park, drew the arrow back, aimed at the bullseye of a rock-fakie and let the arrow fly.  I immediately FUCKED my lower back with my worst back injury EVER and could barely function as a human for 6 weeks.

Then I returned and got better at skating and then FUCKED both knees for 15 months.

My rock-fakie, however, is *divine*.  Totally worth it.

This scares me. I'm 46, and have incorporated basically 90% low-impact tricks into my repertoire, but every once in a while I'll get a little frisky and try to repeat something I used to have on lock in my 20s… and fail miserably, like completely air ball. I couldn't afford to be laid up with an injury, so I feel like I'm consciously dialing down the difficulty. It's still fun but I'm wondering, Am I getting boring?

[Brguy]

I'm in my 20s and already got back pain, I doubt skateboarding is gonna bring me any happiness once I'm 40.