Lifelong Participation Research Articles

Body Composition of Master Swimmers before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study.

The long-term effect of physical activity on body composition in Master athletes is rarely presented in the literature. The aim of this study was to identify possible changes in body composition of Master swimmers over a period of 4 years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we wanted to discover if sarcopenia symptoms would occur in Master athletes during the analyzed period. The body compositions of one hundred and sixty-seven Master swimmers were assessed with the InBody 270 analyzer in 2018. In 2022, the measurements were repeated in forty-six men and fourteen women. The Muscle Mass Index and the Skeletal Muscle Index were calculated to identify sarcopenia-related changes in body composition. We surveyed participants to gather data on their training patterns and SARS-CoV-2 infection history. No significant changes in body composition parameters were noted in Master swimmers during the analysis period (p > 0.05). Sarcopenia risk was not identified in examined athletes, and sarcopenia indicators did not change markedly over the 4-year period (p > 0.05). Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection did not differ from non-infected subjects in terms of body composition. Training cessation during the COVID-19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 infection did not induce long-term changes in body composition of Master swimmers. Life-long participation in swimming activities appears to delay negative changes in body composition, including sarcopenia symptoms.

The relationship between physical literacy and quality of life among university students: The role of motivation as a mediator

Background/objectiveThe literature has discussed the potential for nurturing, integrating, and optimizing physical literacy to thereby enhance quality of life. Progression could be made through the disposition of acquiring movements and engaging in physical activity, but data supporting such an argument remains limited. This cross-sectional study attempted to empirically investigate these two variables by assessing the levels of motivation and satisfaction among university students in Taiwan. The hypothesis posited a positive correlation between physical literacy and quality of life, with the mediating effects of motivation and satisfaction taken into consideration. MethodsBy applying the time segregation method, participants were asked to complete a set of questionnaires at the beginning and the end of the first semester during the 2021 – 2022 academic year. The initial phase involved gathering demographic information and assessing the perceived physical literacy score. The scores for motivation, satisfaction, and quality of life were measured in the subsequent phase. SmartPLS version 3.3 was used to conduct data analysis. After ratifying the model's goodness-of-fit, partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses in the research model. ResultsA total of 388 students (male n = 320, female n = 68; mean age: 18.5 years) participated in this study. Moderate explanatory power was found in the relationships of perceived physical literacy to physical education satisfaction (βPPLI → PES = 0.137, t = 6.439, R2 = 0.642) and motivation (βPPLIA → SIMS = 0.511, t = 32.701, R2 = 0.607). Results then indicated that motivation is the mediator of the relationship between physical literacy and physical education satisfaction (βPPLI → SIMS → PES = 0.373, t = 4.015). Furthermore, this satisfaction mediated the relationship between physical literacy and quality of life (βPPLI → PES → QoLS = 0.070, t = 4.47). ConclusionThis study connected theoretical knowledge regarding physical literacy with practice, suggesting that ongoing physical education may nurture the habit of lifelong participation in physical activity, thus further improving quality of life.

Body composition in male lifelong trained strength, sprint and endurance athletes and healthy age-matched controls.

Aging involves many physiological processes that lead to decreases in muscle mass and increases in fat mass. While regular exercise can counteract such negative body composition outcomes, masters athletes maintain high levels of exercise throughout their lives. This provides a unique model to assess the impact of inherent aging. The present study compared lean mass and fat mass in young and masters athletes from different sports to age-matched non-athletic individuals. Participants included young (20-39 years, n = 109) and older (70-89 years, n = 147) competitive male athletes, and 147 healthy age-matched controls (young = 53, older = 94 males). Athletes were separated into strength (e.g., weightlifters, powerlifters), sprint (e.g., sprint runners, jumpers) and endurance (e.g., long-distance runners, cross-country skiers) athletic disciplines. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Upper and lower limb lean mass was combined for appendicular lean mass as well as appendicular lean mass index (ALMI; kg/m2). Individuals' scores were assessed against established cut-offs for low muscle mass, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity to determine prevalence in each group. ALMI was greater in young strength (0.81-2.36 kg/m2, ∼15% and 1.24-2.74 kg/m2, ∼19%) and sprint (95% CI = 0.51-1.61 kg/m2, ∼11% and 0.96-1.97 kg/m2, ∼15%) athletes than in endurance and controls, respectively (all P < 0.001). In masters athletes, only strength athletes had greater ALMI than endurance athletes, but both older strength and sprint athletes had greater ALMI than older controls (0.42-1.27 kg/m2, ∼9% and 0.73-1.67 kg/m2, ∼13%, respectively, both P < 0.001). Fat mass was significantly lower in sprint and endurance athletes compared to strength athletes and controls in both age-groups. Sarcopenic obesity was identified in one young (2%) and eighteen (19%) older controls, while only two older endurance athletes (3%) and one older strength athlete (2%) were identified. Lifelong competitive sport participation leads to lower prevalence of sarcopenic obesity than a recreationally active lifestyle. This is achieved in strength athletes by emphasizing muscle mass, while sprint and endurance athletes demonstrate low fat mass levels. However, all older athlete groups showed higher fat mass than the young groups, suggesting that exercise alone may not be sufficient to manage fat mass.

Building Lifelong Learning Participation with the ATU Higher Education 4.0 Project: Recognising Prior Learning (RPL) and Providing Career and Learning Pathways with MyCareerPath.ie

Higher Education 4.0 (HE 4.0) is an ambitious, innovative, and collaborative project from the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ireland. A €12.3 million project supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in Ireland under the HCI, Human Capital Initiative. It is a vision for future agility in higher education and provides for opportunities into and through higher education. &#x0D; &#x0D; The Careers and RPL Learning Pathways platform under HE 4.0 incorporates a regional service from the ATU for the assessment of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and the development of personalised career and learning pathways. This new university service is delivered through an online platform at www.mycareerpath.ie and an RPL information site for the ATU at www.myexperience.ie &#x0D; &#x0D; The online MyCareerPath.ie platform involves engagement with employers and potential students to the Atlantic Technological University. The service involves advising candidates on the learning pathways available and appropriate to them, and how to achieve their career objectives or improve their employability. &#x0D; &#x0D; This paper will explore the ATU Career and RPL learning pathways project development journey to date and how the findings emerging from the research and evaluation activities, are informing the establishment of a regional careers and RPL service, supporting lifelong learning participation and upskilling in the workforce. In addition, the process is informing enhancements to the university’s RPL assessment process, policy development and access to higher education initiatives. To conclude, industry pilot case exemplars will be discussed and their engagement with MyCareerPath.ie assessment services, an RPL assessment portfolio and a variety of micro-courses supporting the transition to higher education.

Bone Health, Body Composition and Physiological Demands in 70-85-Year-Old Lifelong Male Football Players.

The effects of lifelong football training on bone health, body composition and physiological demands were evaluated. A total of 20 veteran football players (VPG; 73.4 ± 3.7 years) and 18 untrained age-matched men (CG; 75.6 ± 4.2 years) were enrolled. Whole-body and regional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of arms, legs, proximal femur and lower spine (L1-L4) were recorded in all participants. We observerd higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the whole-body, arms and femoral regions and higher bone mineral content (BMC) in the legs and lower spine compared to the CG (p < 0.05), also higher total lean body mass (p < 0.05) and lower total body fat percentage (p < 0.05), were found. No differences in food habits were evidenced between the VPG and the CG, as evaluated using 3-day food records. Resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure (BP) and activity profile during a football match were recorded using a global positioning system only in the VPG. The mean heart rate (HR)of theoretical maximal HR (ThHRmax), and peak of ThHRmax were 83.9 ± 8.6% and 98.6 ± 10.2%, respectively; the mean of total distance covered was 3666 ± 721 m, and the means of accelerations and decelerations were 419 ± 61 and 428 ± 65, respectively. Lifelong participation in football training improves regional BMD and BMC in legs, femur and lumbar spine compared to the CG. A high number of intense actions in term of HR and accelerations and decelerations suggests an elevated energy expenditure that in turn correlates to the healthier body composition observed in the VPG compared to the CG.

Investigation of University Students' Perceived Physical Literacy According to Selected Demographic Variables

Lifelong participation in regular physical activity can be increased and sustained by achieving an adequate level of physical literacy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived physical literacy levels of students enrolled in a sports science faculty. A total of 268 volunteer students, comprising 90 females and 178 males studying at the XYZ University Sports Science Faculty, were included in the study. "Perceived Physical Literacy Scale" (PPLS) was used to determine the physical literacy levels of the participants. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, t-test and anova tests. It was concluded that there was no significant difference between the perceived physical literacy levels of the participants according to the variables of gender, being a licensed athlete and the region where the family lived. However, depending on the program of study and perceived economic situation, significant differences favouring coach education department students and students with monthly incomes higher than their expenses were identified in the PPLS communication sub-dimension (p

한국 노인의 삶의 만족도와 영향 요인은 시대에 따라 어떻게 변화했는가?

Objectives This study aimed to compare the life satisfaction and its influencing factors between the elderly population in 2011 and in 2020, when the baby boom generation entered. Through this comparison, it was intended to provide basic data necessary for setting the direction of education and welfare policies targeting the elderly in the future.&#x0D; Methods This study analyzed the factors affecting the life satisfaction of the elderly, categorizing them into three areas: health, education, and social relationships. The study included a total of 10,675 participants from the Elderly Survey in 2011 and 10,097 participants from 2020. Differences in the general characteristics of the two generations of elderly, such as residential area, marital status, educaitonal level, and lifelong learning participation, were analyzed. The levels of the life satisfaction and its influencing factors were analyzed using one-sample-t tests to examine the differences between the two time periods. Furthermore, this study analyzed how various variables in the domains of health, education, and social relationships differed in their impact on life satisfaction across different time periods.&#x0D; Results Compared to the elderly in 2011, the elderly in 2020 showed significant improvements in their educational level, life satisfaction, and health-related areas such as overall health status, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and cognitive function. On the other hand, depression and the number of chronic diseases decreased. In the domain of education, both educational attainment and lifelong learning participation improved. In the social relationships domain, both family relationships and interpersonal relationships of the elderly decreased. In both 2011 and 2020, overall health status, cognitive function, the number of chronic diseases, educational attainment, and family relationships all influenced the life satisfaction of the elderly.&#x0D; Conclusions Future educational and welfare policies targeting the elderly should take into account the changing characteristics of the elderly population and be based on higher educational levels. In addition, social efforts are needed to improve the overall health status, cognitive function, number of chronic diseases, educational attainment, and family relationships in order to enhance the life satisfaction of the elderly.

Bridging the Gap: Integrating Theory and Practice for Early Childhood Physical Education Teacher Education in Korea

Early childhood physical education (ECPE) plays a crucial role in giving young children their first impressions of physical activity and promoting lifelong participation. In the Korean context, however, the provision of physical education to young children is challenging owing to a lack of expertise among teachers. This study aims to explore effective teacher training strategies to normalize physical education for young children in Korea. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to derive teacher education strategies that minimize the gap between theory and practice in ECPE. These integration strategies are presented in two categories: pre-service teacher training strategies and in-service teacher training strategies. Five sub-categories were identified within each category, goal, content, method, evaluation, and environment, and the educational implications in terms of minimizing the gap between theory and practice in ECPE teacher education were discussed based on the results. The teacher education strategies derived based on this study are significant in that they prioritize the integration of theory and practice based on the shared opinions of ECPE scholars and practitioners and offer concrete and practical approaches that can actively contribute to the promotion of ECPE.

S5-2 Co-creating a feasible and valid physical literacy assessment tool for children for use in both educational and community physical activity settings, within England

Abstract Purpose Physical literacy (PL) has been described as a gateway to lifelong participation in physical activity, with relevance to the education, health, and sports contexts. That said, it remains a contested term in research and practice, meaning existing PL assessment tools (PLAT) are inconsistent, with divergent ways to assess PL and the encompassing domains. Furthermore, PLATs often lack feasibility, especially when looking to gain population-level data. Therefore, we are developing a feasible and valid PLAT for children (ages 5-11) for use in both educational and community physical activity settings, within England. Method To develop an England-specific PLAT, the project includes four stages: (1) a review of reviews to identify existing strengths and weaknesses of existing tools, (2) identifying stakeholders’ facilitators and barriers to using a PLAT in an education and/or community sports setting, (3) co-developing a feasible PLAT through a multi-stakeholder co-creation event (researchers, practitioners, policymakers), and (4) pilot testing to assess the tools validity and feasibility. Results The results of the scoping review of reviews revealed very few tools exist that assess all domains of PL. Of the identified tool, where the validity and reliability of the tool were more promising, the feasibility of the tool lacked. These findings were akin to tools assessing one domain of PL. Stages 2 and 3 are currently in process. We anticipate sharing findings from the stakeholder survey, and insights from the co-creation event that will have led to a newly developed PLAT for England. Conclusion The co-created PLAT tool will bring together stakeholders across the education, sport, and health sector to gain consensus around the importance of assessing children’s PL in a bid to improve their physical activity levels. We anticipate the co-developed tool will provide surveillance data on children’s PL levels, which will enhance our understanding of the specific needs of children and young people to improve their PL. Thus, better targeting and tailoring support for children and young people to be physically active throughout their lives. Support/Funding Source The project has been externally funded by Sport England and the London Marathon Group.

Physical culture for lifelong healthy participation: Expanding the horizon of individual interest and university engagement in physical education in higher education

The degree of an individual’s interest can be conceptualized as their inclination to experience specific emotions toward a particular domain, such as physical education. There is a lack of published scholarly literature exploring the correlation between individual interest and university engagement, particularly within the context of colleges and universities in the Philippines. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the understanding of the correlation between the two variables. Furthermore, the objective of this study is to ascertain the notable disparity in the individual interest and university engagement of students, taking into account their sexes and educational institution. This study uses a quantitative research method. Upon collecting data from a representative sample of college students, it was determined that there was no discernible variation in the levels of individual interest and university engagement based on gender and educational institution. Furthermore, a notable correlation has been identified between individual interest and engagement in higher education. Ultimately, the factors that contribute to university engagement include positive affect and readiness to reengage, stored utility value, stored attainment value, and knowledge-seeking intentions. The present study provides recommendations for future research initiatives and instructors in order to effectively promote lifelong engagement in physical culture among students, encouraging their participation in diverse healthy activities.

More than just having fun! Understanding the experience of involvement in physical activity of adolescents living with cerebral palsy

Purpose: To explore the experiences of involvement of adolescents living with cerebral palsy, and their parents, while participating in physical activity. Understanding involvement in physical activity may be used to guide future participation. Methods: Eight adolescents (mean age 13 years 11 months, SD 1 year 6 months) with cerebral palsy participated in a New Zealand-based high-level mobility programme (HLMP) focused on running skills, twice per week for 12 weeks. The adolescents and 12 parents were interviewed before, after the 12 weeks and 9-months following the HLMP. Guided by interpretative description, 38 interviews were coded, analysed, and interpreted. Results: Four themes were: “Turning up is not enough” (“There’s no point being there if you’re not involved”); “In it all the way”, “Changes on a dime”, and “What works for me.” Perceptions of involvement varied between adolescents and parents. Being “very involved” related to high levels of focus, concentration, effort; but not always enjoyment. Conclusions: Focusing on enjoyment as the key experience of involvement understates the complexity and dynamic nature of involvement. “Being involved” is not always easy and may not mean the absence of discomfort or effort. Optimising the individuals’ involvement continuum during physical activity may be essential to promote lifelong participation. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Adolescents living with cerebral palsy and their parents have differing perspective of involvement and utilise different strategies to encourage being and staying active. Teaching adolescents living with cerebral palsy about their involvement continuum and optimal level of involvement for each activity, context and environment could promote sustained participation. To ensure adolescents are “being involved” in physical activity, opportunities for engagement, motivation and persistence are important; enjoyment is a possible, but not essential attribute of involvement. Encouraging involvement in physical activity can be a source of family conflict from a young age therefore clinicians have a role as an essential supporter, motivator and educator.

What matters to program partners when implementing a community-based exercise program for people post-stroke? A theory-based qualitative study and cost analysis.

Community-based exercise programs integrating a healthcare-community partnership (CBEP-HCP) can facilitate lifelong exercise participation for people post-stroke. Understanding the process of implementation from multiple perspectives can inform strategies to promote program sustainability. To explore stakeholders' experiences with undertaking first-time implementation of a group, task-oriented CBEP-HCP for people post-stroke and describe associated personnel and travel costs. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study within a pilot randomized controlled trial. In three cities, trained fitness instructors delivered a 12-week CBEP-HCP targeting balance and mobility limitations to people post-stroke at a recreation centre with support from a healthcare partner. Healthcare and recreation managers and personnel at each site participated in semi-structured interviews or focus groups by telephone post-intervention. Interviews and data analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research and Theoretical Domains Framework, for managers and program providers, respectively. We estimated personnel and travel costs associated with implementing the program. Twenty individuals from three sites (4 recreation and 3 healthcare managers, 7 fitness instructors, 3 healthcare partners, and 3 volunteers) participated. We identified two themes related to the decision to partner and implement the program: (1) Program quality and packaging, and cost-benefit comparisons influenced managers' decisions to partner and implement the CBEP-HCP, and (2) Previous experiences and beliefs about program benefits influenced staff decisions to become instructors. We identified two additional themes related to experiences with training and program delivery: (1) Program staff with previous experience and training faced initial role-based challenges that resolved with program delivery, and (2) Organizational capacity to manage program resource requirements influenced managers' decisions to continue the program. Participants identified recommendations related to partnership formation, staff/volunteer selection, training, and delivery of program activities. Costs (in CAD) for first-time program implementation were: healthcare partner ($680); fitness coordinators and instructors ($3,153); and participant transportation (personal vehicle: $283; public transit: $110). During first-time implementation of a CBEP-HCP, healthcare and hospital managers focused on cost, resource requirements, and the added-value of the program, while instructors and healthcare partners focused on their preparedness for the role and their ability to manage individuals with balance and mobility limitations. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03122626. Registered April 17, 2017-Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03122626.

Injury prevention research to reduce youth-sport related injuries

Injury prevention research to reduce youth-sport related injuries Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of disability in youth (ages 10-19), with &gt;50% sport-related.(1) One in 3 youth will seek medical attention for a sport-related injury and 1 in 10 for a concussion each year.(2) Injury leads to reduced physical activity and increased risk of chronic disease and obesity, which has risen ~20% in the past decade.(3) Prevention is the best medicine, and evidence-informed primary injury prevention solutions can ensure lifelong sport participation and all the associated health benefits. The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre (SIPRC)at the University of Calgary aims to eliminate injuries and their consequences that prevent youth from lifelong participation in sport.

Highly Active Middle School Athletes Demonstrate Poor Motor Skill Proficiency.

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are critical components to lifelong participation in sports and physical activity. With the rise in early sports specialization, mastery of motor skills may be limited in youth athletes. The purpose of this study was to assess FMS proficiency in highly active middle school athletes and determine whether proficiency differed between specialization levels and sex. (1) Most athletes would fail to achieve proficiency in all domains of the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2), (2) highly specialized athletes would demonstrate lower proficiency in all domains of the TGMD-2, and (3) male athletes would demonstrate higher proficiency than female athletes. Cross-sectional. Level 4. A total of 91 athletes were recruited (44 male, 12.6 ± 0.9 years). Activity level was quantified using the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (Pedi-FABS), specialization level was determined using the Jayanthi Specialization Scale, and the TGMD-2 was used to assess FMS proficiency. Descriptive statistics were used to describe gross motor, locomotor, and object control percentile rank. A 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences in percentile rank between low, moderate, and high specialization groups and independent samples t tests were used to compare sexes (α < 0.05). Mean Pedi-FABS score was 23.6 ± 4.9. In total, 24.2%, 38.5%, and 37.4% of athletes classified as low, moderate, and highly specialized, respectively. Mean percentile ranks were 56.2%, 64.7%, and 62.6% for locomotor, object control, and gross motor domains, respectively. No athlete achieved a percentile rank >99% in any domain of the TGMD-2, and there was no significant difference between specialization groups or sex. Despite high activity levels, no athlete demonstrated proficiency in any domain of the TGMD-2, and there was no difference in proficiency between specialization levels or by sex. Sport participation, regardless of level, does not ensure adequate mastery of FMS.

Rationale and design of the Birkebeiner Ageing Study – a prospective cohort study of older endurance athletes

BackgroundWhile regular physical activity is associated with reduced mortality and morbidity in general populations, health outcomes and functional capacity related to upholding strenuous endurance exercise beyond the age of 65 years are only sparsely studied. The aim of this study is to assess associations of prolonged strenuous endurance sport practice with ageing, functional decline, morbidity and longevity among older recreational endurance athletes, during long-term follow-up.MethodsProspective cohort study of older recreational endurance athletes in Norway. All skiers aged 65 years and older who participated in a long-distance endurance competition, the annual 54-km Birkebeiner cross-country ski race in 2009 or 2010, were invited. The participants answered an extensive baseline questionnaire about lifestyle habits, including leisure-time physical activity and endurance sport participation, diseases, medication use and physical and mental health, with follow-up questionnaires planned every fifth year until 2029. New participants may be invited with the aim to increase the study size. Endpoints such as all-cause and disease-specific mortality, incidence and cumulative prevalence of diseases, use of medication, physical and mental health and functional decline will be assessed subsequently.Out of 658 invited skiers (51 women), 551(84%) completed the baseline questionnaire and were included in the study. The mean age was 68.8 years (median 68, range 65- 90). At baseline, the participants had completed the Birkebeiner race for an average of 16.6 years and reported an average of 33.4 years of regular endurance exercise, with one out of five reporting at least 50 years of exercise. In all, 479 (90%) reported that they were still practicing leisure-time physical activity of moderate or vigorous intensity at least twice weekly. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases was low.DiscussionThis prospective study of a cohort of recreational athletes exposed to prolonged and strenuous endurance exercise, could complement population-based studies by providing data on associations between life-long endurance sport participation, aging, functional decline and health outcomes during long-term follow-up.

Sports Participation Promotes Beneficial Adaptations in the Erythrocyte Guanylate Nucleotide Pool in Male Athletes Aged 20-90 Years.

The guanine nucleotide pool (GTP, guanosine-5'-triphosphate; GDP, guanosine-5'-diphosphate, and GMP, guanosine-5'-monophosphate) is an essential energy donor in various biological processes (eg protein synthesis and gluconeogenesis) and secures several vital regulatory functions in the human body. The study aimed to predict the trends of age-related changes in erythrocyte guanine nucleotides and examine whether competitive sport and related physical training promote beneficial adaptations in erythrocyte guanylate concentrations. The study included 86 elite endurance runners (EN) aged 20-81 years, 58 sprint-trained athletes (SP) aged 21-90 years, and 62 untrained individuals (CO) aged 20-68 years. The concentration of erythrocyte GTP and total guanine nucleotides (TGN) were highest in the SP group, lower in the EN group, and lowest in the CO group. Both athletic groups had higher guanylate energy charge (GEC) values than the CO group (p = 0.012). Concentrations of GTP, TGN, and GEC value significantly decreased, while GDP and GMP concentrations progressively increased with age. Such a profile of change suggests a deterioration of the GTP-related regulatory function in older individuals. Our study explicitly shows that lifelong sports participation, especially of sprint-oriented nature, allows for maintaining a higher erythrocyte guanylate pool concentration, supporting cells' energy metabolism, regulatory and transcription properties, and thus more efficient overall body functioning.

여대생의 체육수업 경험에 대한 인식과 스포츠 소비의도와의 관계에서 교양체육수업 만족도의 매개효과

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to confirm whether satisfaction with college physical education class acts as a mediator in the association between female college students’ perception of their physical education class experiences and their intention to consume sports.BR Method: The subjects of this study were female college students. Among the female college students, subjects who were taking physical education classes during the survey period or who had previously taken these classes were selected. Online and face-to-face surveys were conducted at a total of five regional universities, including Gyeonggi, Chungnam, Gyeongsang, Busan, and Jeolla. A total of 252 completed questionnaire were collected through these surveys. Out of the initial number of 252 copies, 18 were eliminated due to inadequate responses, leaving a total of 234 copies for the final analysis to verify the hypothesis. The data that was gathered underwent regression analysis, and the Sobel test was used to confirm the significance of the mediating effect.BR Results: As a result of the analysis, hypothesis 1, that the perception of female college students’ physical education class experience would affect sports consumption intention, was accepted. After verifying the mediating effect, the college physical education classes’ operation, environmental, and professor satisfaction in the relationship between female college students’ perception of physical education class experience and sports consumption intention, the mediating effect was found to be statistically significant, and hypotheses 2 (operation satisfaction), 3 (environmental satisfaction), and 4 (professor satisfaction) were all adopted.BR Conclusion: The study is confirmed that satisfaction with the college physical education classes’ operation, environment, and professors all have a mediating effect in the relationship between female college students’ perception of physical education class experience and sports consumption intention. The positive physical activities that female college students experience through college physical education classes have a very important meaning not only in the educational aspect but also in the industrial aspect of lifelong sports participation, that is, continuous consumption of sports services.

Factors determining implicit attitudes toward sports and exercise: desirability and enjoyment

Previous studies have found that implicit attitudes, in addition to explicit attitudes, toward sports and exercise can help predict health-related behaviors. This study aimed to explore the factors that determine implicit attitudes toward sports and exercise. Using an online experiment, we investigated two types of implicit attitudes toward sports and exercise: desirability and enjoyment. Implicit attitudes toward sports and exercise were measured using two different Implicit Association Test (IAT) for desirability and for joy. We examined the degree to which “sports and exercise” were perceived to be more strongly associated with positive words than “sedentary behaviors.” We hypothesized that past experiences with sports and exercise affect implicit attitudes, and that desirability and enjoyment (positive implicit attitudes) might differ qualitatively. Participants included 318 students (230 male and 88 female, M = 19.62, SD = 1.78) who completed online questionnaires consisting of one of the two types of IAT. The results indicated that male participants have more positive implicit attitudes for both joy and desirability, and people with sports competence tend to have higher positive implicit attitudes concerning joy, but not desirability. Interest in professional sports was related to both IATs, while only the joy IAT was related to self-reported physical competence and the frequency of playing sports. The contributions of this study show that the two types of implicit attitudes toward sports and exercise—desirability and joy—are associated with different behaviors, and perceiving sports and exercise as joyful leads people to lifelong sports participation.

Generalization and maintenance of skill trials from physical education to recess in elementary school

ABSTRACT Background: Being skillful is a prerequisite for lifelong participation in physical activity (WHO 2022). Hence, investigating the quality of children’s skill performance is important. If physical education wants to contribute to the development of a physically active lifestyle, demonstrating whether children apply skills learned in physical education in a less structured setting such as recess is worthwhile. Purpose: This study systematically replicated and extended previous work connecting the content of physical education (i.e. parkour) with voluntary organized physical activity during recess. It was investigated whether children would maintain participation in parkour recess after the parkour sport education season in physical education ended. The research questions in this study were: (1) How did children’s voluntary participation in parkour recess differ between the generalization and maintenance phase?; and (2) How did children’s performance of skill trials in parkour recess differ between generalization and maintenance phase in comparison to physical education? Sex effects were investigated in both research questions. Methods: Participants in this study were seven physical education teachers (2 females and 5 males) and 147 grade 2 children (55 girls and 92 boys, mean age: 8 years). Seven classes from different schools in Flanders (Belgium) received a 10-lesson sport education parkour season in physical education. During the generalization phase, parkour was taught in physical education and five voluntary 20-min parkour recess sessions were organized during lunch recess. During the maintenance phase, teachers taught other content during physical education instead of parkour and another five parkour recess sessions were organized during lunch recess. All physical education lessons and parkour recess sessions were videorecorded. Children’s voluntary participation in each parkour recess session was recorded and their correct skill trials in physical education and parkour recess were collected using systematic observation. Findings: Children’s voluntary participation in parkour recess significantly declined from generalization (77%) to maintenance phase (52%), p < .001. In parkour recess, children performed significantly more total skill trials (58 vs. 51, p = .013), skill trials per minute (4.20 vs. 3.49, p < .001), and correct skill trials per minute (1.67 vs. 1.45, p = .029) in the maintenance versus generalization phase. Girls had a higher proportion of correct skill trials than boys (42% vs 36%, p = .01) in maintenance phase. No sex effect was found on children’s performance of skill trials during physical education. Conclusions: More than half of the children continued voluntarily to participate in parkour recess during the maintenance phase. Both boys and girls performed more skill trials in organized parkour recess compared to physical education. Connecting organized recess with physical education provided children with an opportunity to apply what they had learned in physical education. This study provides evidence of physical education’s potential to contribute to the development of children’s volitional physically active lifestyles.

Comparing the fundamental movement skill proficiency of children with intellectual disabilities and typically developing children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Children around the world, particularly those with intellectual disabilities (ID), are exhibiting poor motor skill proficiency. Compared with typically developing children (TDC), children with intellectual disabilities (CwID) are 65% more likely to exhibit low levels of motor competence. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the motor skill proficiency levels, in terms of fundamental movement skills (FMS) of CwID to TDC. FMS are the building blocks required for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. The meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA statement guidelines. 6 electronic databases were searched and 16, 679 studies were found. A total of 26 studies (total participants n = 3,525) met the inclusion criteria. A multivariate maximum likelihood multivariate random effects model was fitted to the data using the metafor package in R. The study showed that the standardised mean difference (Hedges' g) in FMS between TDC and CwID is large (g = 1.24; CI 95% [.87, 1.62]). Specifically, significant differences between the two groups emerged in all five outcomes: (1) total locomotor score, (2) total object manipulation score, (3) balance, (4) run skill and (5) throw skill. Further investigation into effective intervention strategies is required in order to reduce the magnitude of difference in motor skill proficiency between the two groups. In addition to developing, implementing and evaluating these interventions, researchers need to work hand in hand with national governing bodies (NGB) of sport and policy makers to ensure that teachers and coaches are being provided with opportunities to upskill in the area of FMS.