Activating inactive citizens through the organized sports setting: a hurdle race

Abstract

Physical inactivity increases the risk for chronic diseases and mortality, and is a problem faced by countries worldwide. Strategies to promote physical activity among inactive target groups are therefore necessary. In this regard, a settings-based approach towards physical activity promotion has been encouraged. The organized sports setting, in particular sports clubs, is seen as a promising setting to increase physical activity among inactive groups within a population. The main focus of this thesis was to understand if and how the organized sports setting can successfully contribute to increasing physical activity levels among inactive people. Fourteen Dutch sporting programs aimed at increasing sport participation in inactive population groups, were studied during the three-year funded implementation period and six and half years thereafter. These programs were developed by ten National Sports Federations (NSFs) as part of the National Action Plan for Sport and Exercise (NAPSE) and implemented by sports clubs in the Netherlands (period 2008-2011). The research in this thesis focused on the effectiveness of two programs within the NAPSE and characteristics of insufficiently active participants who benefited the most from these programs in terms of increasing health-enhancing physical activity. Furthermore, factors influencing the implementation and long-term sustainability of all NAPSE programs were examined. The results showed that sporting programs that are few weeks in duration may be used to increase physical activity levels of inactive people in the sports clubs setting. Moreover, programs were more effective in increasing physical activity when participants received familial support with regard to their sport participation. Therefore, strategies that promote familial support, such as including family members as sporting buddies or involving them in other club activities (e.g. social activities, volunteering), could enhance the effectiveness of the programs. In general, it was difficult to attract large numbers of inactive people to the sporting programs. Therefore, NSFs and sports clubs should collaborate more with organizations or people in the community that are connected to the inactive target group, to recruit more inactive people. Furthermore, the implementation and long-term sustainability of these programs is influenced by many factors. For successful implementation and long-term sustainability of programs, it is, for example, important to involve the inactive target group and sports clubs in program design. Also, NSFs should support sports clubs in implementing these programs. Based on the research results, recommendations are provided for policy makers, NSFs and sports clubs to enhance the impact of sporting programs aimed at inactive people in the future.