Public Leisure Policies in the Global South: Influences of Active Leisure Programs and Education in Brazil1

To describe leisure participation in adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHD) and identify factors associated with intensity of participation. Eighty adolescents with CHD were recruited (39 males, 41 females; mean age [SD] 15y 8mo [1y 8mo] range 11y 5mo-19y 11mo) of whom 78 completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) outcome measure of leisure participation. The measure has five subscales: recreational, active-physical, social, skill-based, and self-improvement. Associations between the CAPE and age, sex, and development were examined. Motor ability (Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition), cognition (Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised), behavior (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), and motivation (Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire) were assessed. Participants exhibited impaired motor (43.5%), behavioral (23.7%), and cognitive (29.9%) development. The most intense participation was in social (mean [SD] 3.3 [0.99]) and recreational (2.9 [0.80]) activity types on the CAPE. Male sex (p<0.05) and younger age were associated with greater physical activity (<15y: 1.87; ≥15y: 1.31, p<0.05). Greater engagement in social activities was related to better cognition (r=0.28, p<0.05), higher motor function (r=0.30-0.36, p<0.01), and fewer behavioral difficulties (r=-0.32 to -0.47, p<0.01). Cognitive ability (r=0.27, p<0.05), dexterity and aiming/catching (r=0.27-0.33, p<0.05), and behavior problems (r=0.38-0.49, p=0.001) were correlated with physical activity participation. Persistence in tasks, an aspect of motivation, correlated with physical (r=0.45, p<0.001) and social activity involvement (r=0.28, p<0.05). Ongoing developmental impairments in adolescents with CHD are associated with decreased active-physical and social engagement, putting them at risk of poor physical and mental health. Health promotion strategies should be considered. Adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHD) have limited engagement in active-physical leisure activities. Cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments are associated with decreased participation in leisure in children with CHD. Female sex and older age are associated with less engagement in leisure. Mastery motivation correlates with participation, suggesting an avenue for intervention.

Background: Hispanics in the U.S. are less likely to engage in leisure time physical activity than non-Hispanics. Among Hispanics, families influence health behaviors and family support may motivate adults at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) to participate in physical activity. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether family support predicts engagement in leisure time physical activity among Hispanic adults at risk for CVD or T2D. Methods: Baseline data from Hispanic adults at risk for CVD or T2D were analyzed. Family support for leisure time physical activity was measured using the Family Support subscale of the Social Support for Physical Activity instrument. This consists of 7 items with response options ranging from never (0) to always (4). Sum scores range from 0 to 28 and higher scores indicate greater family support for engagement in physical activity. Leisure time physical activity was measured using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) physical activity subscale. This consists of eight items with response options ranging from never (1) to routinely (4) with higher mean scores indicating higher levels of engagement in leisure time physical activity. Linear regression was used to examine the association between family support and leisure time physical activity, controlling for age, sex, race, financial comfort, education, acculturation, years living in the U.S, marital status, and employment. Results: Participants (N=182) were 40±9 years old; 82.7% were female. The mean HPLP-II score was 1.7±0.5, reflecting low engagement in leisure time physical activity. Results of the regression analysis indicated that greater family support predicted higher levels of engagement in leisure time physical activity (F(10,171)=2.717, p&lt;.004; R 2 =.137). Conclusions: Family support for physical activity may increase engagement in leisure time physical activity in Hispanic adults at risk for CVD or T2D. Interventions that promote family support for physical activity could be an important avenue for reducing CVD and T2D risk in this population group.

635 Understanding parent perceptions of healthy physical activity for their child with a chronic medical condition

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the lives of cancer survivors. Beyond being at increased risk for COVID-19 infection and severe complications, cancer survivors may be at higher risk of other consequential health outcomes compared to those without a history of cancer. Engagement in physical activity has been shown to positively affect cancer survivorship outcomes, and as such, it is important to assess physical activity habits during the pandemic of cancer survivors. Aim: To investigate the individual-level physical activity among male cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare to men without cancer. Methods: Participants of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, enrolled since 1986, were asked to self-report health behaviors during the pandemic on three web-based questionnaires administered during the COVID-19 pandemic (baseline COVID: October 2020, first follow-up: January 2021, second follow-up: April 2021). Physical activity measures were analyzed descriptively between cancer survivors and individuals without a history of cancer. Outcomes were recoded dichotomously to reflect either: healthful (i.e., higher engagement since pandemic) vs unchanged/unhealthful behavior or high vs low engagement in an activity. Logistic regression models were employed to assess association with cancer survivor status and were adjusted for covariates such as age, race, pre-pandemic BMI, pre-pandemic physical activity, and other health information, as appropriate. Results: Of 4,416 men who completed the baseline COVID-19 questionnaire, 962 were cancer survivors (after excluding those with non-melanoma skin cancer). Of all eligible men (median age: 78 years) reporting on physical activity, over 50% walked for at least 2-3 hours per week, over 10% used a stationary bike for at least 1 hour per week, 14% engaged in yoga for at least 1 hour per week, and nearly 20% engaged in vigorous activity for at least 1 hour per week. Further, 42% engaged in high (1+ times per day) levels of mindfulness and 24% engaged in high (1+ times per day) levels of yoga. Engagement in vigorous physical activity was significantly lower among cancer survivors compared to individuals without a history of cancer (Chi-square p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest older men had high engagement in physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, with vigorous physical activity engagement significantly lower in cancer survivors. Citation Format: Colleen B. McGrath, Alaina H. Shreves, Konrad Stopsack, Lilian Cheung, Ann Fisher, Sarah Markt, Lorelei A. Mucci. Physical activity among male cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 439.

Regular physical activity may offer benefits to lung cancer survivors, many of whom experience quality-of-life (QOL) impairments. However, little is know about lung cancer survivors' engagement in physical activity across the cancer trajectory. The current study addressed this research gap and also examined the association between lung cancer survivors' physical activity and their QOL. The study participants were 175 individuals who completed surgical treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer 1 to 6 years previously. Participants completed a one-time survey regarding their current QOL and their engagement in physical activities currently, during the 6 months after treatment, and during the 6 months before diagnosis. Participants' reported engagement in both moderate and strenuous intensity activities was lower during the post-treatment period compared with before diagnosis and at the current time. Engagement in light intensity activities did not differ for the three time points. Almost two-thirds of participants did not engage in sufficient activity to meet national physical activity guidelines for any of the three time points. Lung cancer survivors who currently met physical activity guidelines reported better QOL in multiple domains than less active individuals. Engagement in physical activity among lung cancer survivors is particularly low during the early post-treatment period. Current engagement in physical activity is associated with better QOL. However, most lung cancer survivors do not meet physical activity guidelines and may benefit from interventions to promote engagement in regular physical activities.

This study investigated differences in the type of and number of perceived barriers to engagement in physical activity experienced by adult women and men in the same geographical area, the relationship between the experienced barriers and stages of change in relation to exercise behavior, and identified barriers related to reported engagement in leisure-time physical activity. Data were obtained from a population study by the National Institute of Public Health in two counties during 2000-2001. The sample consisted of 2709 females and 2212 men in the age groups 75, 60, 45, 40 and 30 years. Questionnaires measured barriers to engagement in physical activity, engagement in physical activity and readiness for engaging in physical activity (stages of change). Multivariate analyses of variance demonstrated significant age and gender differences in the perceptions of barriers at the various stages of change. The logistic regressions [estimated odds ratios (OR)] demonstrated that low scores for affective/cognitive and practical barriers were significantly associated with higher OR for engagement in physical activity for women, and low-priority barriers and lower age were associated with higher OR for being physically active for men. The information from this study should be valuable for designing and tailoring both motivational strategies and interventions to fit targeted groups.

Association of depressive symptoms and engagement in physical activity with event-free survival in patients with heart failure

BackgroundOlder adults from lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups have lower physical activity levels compared to those from higher SES groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these disparities in physical activity persisted, or even widened in the UK and other high-income countries. This qualitative study investigated the views of older adults residing in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation, around the acceptability of engaging in physical activity in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with 16 older adults living in areas with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation in Manchester, UK were conducted. Most participants (n = 12) were not meeting physical activity guidelines. An inductive reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken.ResultsSix themes were identified which related to the acceptability of engaging in physical activity amongst this group: (1) The COVID-19 pandemic - a teachable moment for physical activity, (2) Physical activity - for purpose or pleasure?, (3) Focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do, (4) Opportunities to be physically active (which consisted of two sub-themes: Place and Time), (5) Importance of social environment, and (6) Physical activity messaging and perceptions.ConclusionsAn increased motivation to do more physical activity post-pandemic was identified amongst this population, suggesting now is a good time to act for intervention development to capitalise on this. Better messaging is needed to communicate and improve the accessibility of physical activity guidelines amongst this population. To increase engagement in leisure-time physical activity amongst this population, future interventions and messaging should emphasise fun and enjoyment.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-24981-6.

Little is known about how Indigenous young people understand and articulate their health and the meanings they give to physical activity in their lives. Being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in contemporary Australia is often discursively constructed in physical activity and health literature as equating with risks and deficits of many kinds. Indigenous young people are statistically less likely to engage in physical activity and have higher statistical risk of dying younger and bearing a greater burden of illness than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Conversely, Aboriginal people have been portrayed as superior in sporting ability, often described as ‘black magic’ and thus sport has been promoted as a pathway for upward social mobility. These portrayals are often essentialising and patronising, born of a colonial past which sought to regulate, assimilate and control Indigenous people. They ignore the complexity and diversity of the lived experiences of Indigenous young people. This thesis sought to explore the ways in which a group of urban Indigenous young people make sense of their health and physical activity in their home, school and their community contexts, particularly in light of these multiple discourses about them. Fourteen urban Indigenous young people (6 male, 8 female) aged 11-13 years (at first interview), were interviewed up to seven times over two and a half years, as they transitioned from primary to secondary school. Drawings, photos, diaries, media and magazine clippings and mapping were used as stimuli for interviews and as an additional form of raw data, with analysis comprising both thematic and discourse analysis. The research process, data collection and analyses were informed by several different theoretical perspectives and tools, including post-structural theory, post-colonial theory, critical race theory, whiteness studies, risk society and ‘the cultural interface’. A post-hoc theorising approach was adopted as it enabled the narrative data to be fore grounded, with any theoretical outlook deemed useful based on its ability to help inform an analysis, rather than seeking to ‘fit’ the data into a particular analytical ‘lens’. In addition, the research has taken a deliberately strengths-based rather than pathologised perspective of Indigenous young people. This was in keeping with an anti-racist research methodology which acknowledges the need to deconstruct familiar ideological knowledge patterns which have resulted from a colonial history. Findings from this research are presented across several chapters. Firstly, the social, cultural and physical locations of physical activity in the lives of these young people are explored in using the cultural interface (Nakata, 2007) as a theoretical tool with which to problematise the ways in which ‘culture’ is used to position Indigenous young people and their engagement in physical activity and sport. The ways in which the young people enter into, resist and reconceptualise common discourses about them are further explored in subsequent chapters, including the intersections between physical activity and culture, race, healthism and popular culture. These chapters highlight the diversity within this group of young people in their engagement in sport and physical activity. Many of the young people identified ways in which their social and cultural connections created meanings in their physical worlds which impacted their engagement in physical activity, both creating and limiting opportunities. At times, social connection (e.g. having a large family) helped to compensate for limitations in physical spaces (e.g. having a small backyard). Physical activity and sport were embedded within a social context which included frequent re-location and issues of housing access. While there was some resistance to stereotypes of ‘blackfellas being good at sport’, for some this essentialist notion provided an opportunity to assert what they appeared to appropriate as cultural capital. For some, sport and physical activity were key parts of their identity, while for others, they appeared to have little meaning or significance in their lives. The young people generally (but not universally) asserted pride in their Aboriginal bodies, expressing a cultural embodiment beyond skin colour. The insights provided by this group of urban Indigenous young people did not produce a neat, essentialised view of health and physical activity in their lives. There was often complexity and contradiction within and between participant’s comments. These findings indicate that a range of approaches to physical activity policy development and programming is required for Indigenous young people. These need to take place within a broader context of valuing and promoting meaningful activities (e.g. academic, creative and physical activities) as vehicles for the experience of success and worth for urban Indigenous young people. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the ways in which health and physical activity are understood and expressed, and the ways in which Indigenous young people engage in and resist dominant discourses regarding their reasons for, and benefits of, participation.

Identifying protective factors or effective prevention strategies for dementia would result in considerable benefits by prolonging quality of life and reducing social burden. Current data suggests that participation in physical leisure activities may lower the risk of dementia by improving cognitive reserves. The objective of this review was to determine the best available evidence in relation to physical leisure activities in preventing dementia among older adults. Types of studies Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and other experimental designs were considered for inclusion into the review. In the absence of clinical trials, other study designs such as cohort, case controlled and cross-sectional were considered. Only articles published in the English language were included with no publication date restriction.Types of participants Participants of interest were adults aged 60 and older with or without a clinical diagnosis of dementia, living in the community or residential care setting.Types of intervention This review considered studies that evaluated the effectiveness of any physical leisure activity in the prevention of dementia. Physical activities included gardening, playing sports, exercises, sightseeing and any other activities that required active movement of the body.Types of outcome measures The review considered studies that indicated the presence or absence of dementia as determined by cognitive function tests, mental examination scores, DSM classification (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), and other valid dementia diagnostic tools. A search for published and unpublished literature in the English language was conducted using all major electronic databases. There was no publication date restriction. A three-step search strategy was developed using MeSH terminology and keywords to ensure that all material relevant to the review was captured. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by two reviewers, who appraised each study independently, using standardised Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Data was extracted from the studies that were identified as meeting the criteria for methodological quality using the standard JBI data extraction tools. Due to the heterogeneity of populations and interventions, results are presented in narrative form. Seventeen longitudinal studies were included in the review. Studies were grouped by stage of adult life participation when interventions were undertaken i.e. early-middle adulthood and late life. The evidence regarding the relationship between participation in physical activities during midlife and later life and the prevention of dementia was equivocal. The majority of studies showed limited benefits in engaging in physical activities and results indicated that some activities might be more beneficial than others. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH.

Athletes are a key group from which likely eligible donors could be sourced. While blood donation has been popularized as detrimental to athletic performance, little is known about how athletes perceive blood donation. The aim of this study was to investigate athletes' perceptions of the impacts of donating blood on their athletic performance and whether these influence their engagement with blood donation. A total of 175 athletes (78 donors; 97 non-donors) prescreened as eligible to donate blood in Australia completed an online survey assessing the perceived impact of (i) donating blood on engagement and performance in physical activity (type of impact, direction, and duration) and (ii) engaging in physical activity on blood donation (magnitude of impact and modification of behavior). We found that 37%-39% of our sample indicated that they had considered the impact of donating blood on their engagement or performance in physical activity, with the impact seen as negative but short term. Fatigue was the most commonly identified impact of donation on performance in physical activity. While the impact of donating did not account for athletes' non-donor status, many donors noted changing their engagement in physical activity pre- and post-donation to allow recovery, and aligning blood donation with their training schedule. Athletes are a key community from which likely eligible donors could be sourced, however a significant proportion of athletes perceive that donating will negatively impact their athletic performance. Strategies to engage athletes with donation should acknowledge and facilitate athletes need to align their training with donating.

ObjectivesPhysical activity shows promise for reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and protection against cognitive decline among individuals with and without AD. Older adults face many barriers to adoption of physically active lifestyles and people with AD face even further challenges. Physical activity is a promising non-pharmacological approach to improve depressive symptoms, but little is known about the impact of depressive symptoms as a potential barrier to engagement in physical activity. The present study aimed to investigate depressive symptoms as a potential barrier for participation in physical activity across a range of dementia severity.MethodWe used longitudinal structural equation modelling to investigate the bi-directional relationship between depressive symptoms and physical activity in 594 older adults with and without AD over a 2 year longitudinal follow up. Participants ranged from no cognitive impairment to moderately severe AD.ResultsWe found that depressive symptoms predicted reduced engagement in subsequent physical activity, but physical activity did not predict subsequent reductions in depressive symptoms.ConclusionWe conclude that depressive symptoms may be an important barrier to engagement in physical activity that may be addressed in clinical practice and intervention research.

Sports and activity programs play a significant role in children's overall physical activity levels to allow them to benefit from participating in physical activity during the pandemic. The researcher seeks to provide guidelines that will benefit all students who participate in physical education. This study aimed to determine the interest in athletics and engagement in home-based physical fitness activities of pre-service physical education teachers at Batangas State University JPLPC-Malvar, to determine its implications for teaching physical education. It specifically addressed the respondents' level of interest in athletics, their engagement in home-based physical fitness activities, the significant relationship between the two variables, and suggested activities to increase respondents' interest in athletics through participation in home-based physical fitness activities. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted to assess 62 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Physical Education program at the Batangas State University JPLPC-Malvar campus. Using a self-made questionnaire and appropriate statistical measures, the obtained results revealed that the majority of respondents engage in home-based physical fitness activities; however, bodyweight training is more engaging than anaerobic exercise. The data also showed a significant relationship between athletic interest levels and home-based physical fitness activities. The majority of responders are pre-service physical education instructors. The recommended activities to increase respondents' interest in athletics can be accomplished through participation in home-based physical fitness activities.

POS0990 FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS. RESULTS FROM THE EUROPEAN MAP OF AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS (EMAS)

Summary Health outcomes for young people living in residential out-of-home care are poor. There has been increased emphasis on the need to prioritize preventative support and upskill residential care workers to better meet young people's health needs. The aim of this study was to examine the food quality and physical activity environment in residential care houses in Victoria, Australia prior to staff undertaking Healthy Eating, Active Living Matters (HEAL) training; 102 residential care houses participated. House representatives completed an online survey exploring: (1) physical activity equipment and engagement and (2) weekly food budget and expenditure. Findings The average weekly food expenditure per household was $318.98 (SD = $106.51), with variation between different sized households. The majority (61%) of houses’ weekly food expenditure was spent on ultra-processed food products that are ready to eat with no/little preparation, in comparison to 36% spent on unprocessed foods (fresh fruit and vegetables). The majority of houses reported having two types of equipment. Young people were not often engaged in physical and/or recreational activities in their community. Application Residential care houses in Victoria require additional supports to ensure that young people are supported to eat well and be active at home and in the community. HEALing Matters aims to provide this, by offering professional development for residential carers to better facilitate engagement in physical activity and healthy eating among the young people in their care. If successful, HEALing Matters may provide an effective pathway to improved health and wellbeing outcomes for young people in residential care.