Background: Physical activity and sport (PAS) have been related to health and social benefits, but their monetary value remains unclear. This systematic review on the social return on investment of PAS aimed to find what are the social outcomes measured in previous PAS literature and how are these measured and valued. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on WoS, PubMed, and EconLit. Articles in English, measuring the social value of any type of PAS in monetary terms and utilizing a social return on investment framework, were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Drummond checklist. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Results: Fifty-five documents (2010–2022), from all continents except America, were included; only 8 were published in peer-reviewed journals, whereas 47 were reports. Most studies evaluated the benefits of specific programs, and 6 measured the engagement in PAS at the population level based on national or community surveys. The social outcomes identified were health (94.5%), crime (50.9%), education (83.6%), subjective well-being (89.1%), social capital (60%), and other (3.6%–23.6%). The valuation methods included willingness to pay, well-being valuation, the cost of an activity that could result in the same outcome, and cost databases associating outcomes with a monetary value. Conclusions: This study updates a previous review and widens the scope by answering the question of how social outcomes are measured and valued in previous PAS literature. Given the heterogeneity found in the application of the method, this review will inform a Delphi study to reach a Global Consensus Statement on the measurement of social value and PAS.
Browse
Striving for Global Consensus: A Systematic Review of Social Return on Investment Applied to Physical Activity and Sport
Inés Nieto, Xián Mayo, Larissa Davies, Lindsey Reece, Ben Strafford, and Alfonso Jimenez
Addressing Social Justice and Equity Imperatives: Exemplars of Inclusive Excellence
Jared A. Russell and Timothy A. Brusseau
Association Between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Mobility Limitations in Twins
Pia Pullinen, Jari Parkkari, Jaakko Kaprio, Henri Vähä-Ypyä, Harri Sievänen, Urho Kujala, and Katja Waller
Background: The associations between mobility limitations and device-measured physical activity are sparsely studied. In this study, these associations are studied among community-dwelling older twins. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data gathered in 2014–2016 for the MOBILETWIN study. Participants were twins born in Finland between 1940 and 1944 (774 participants, mean age 73 years). Physical activity was measured with a hip-worn accelerometer. Mobility limitations were assessed with a questionnaire. Results: Individual-level analyses revealed that physical activity was associated with mobility limitations. Participants with severe mobility limitations took 2,637 (SD = 1,747) steps per day, those with some mobility limitations 4,437 (SD = 2,637) steps, and those without mobility limitations 7,074 (SD = 2,931) steps (p < .05). The within-twin pair analyses revealed the same pattern for the 144 dizygotic twin pairs, but no associations were seen for the 117 monozygotic twin pairs. Conclusions: Accelerometer-measured physical activity and mobility limitations were associated in community-dwelling older adults. Genetic factors may explain some of the variations in physical activity. Significance: A personalized exercise program to promote increased physical activity should be provided for older adults who report mobility difficulties. Future research is needed to examine causality between physical activity and mobility limitations.
Associations of Working From Home Frequency With Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Japanese White-Collar Workers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Meiji Yasuda LifeStyle Study
Naruki Kitano, Yuya Fujii, Aya Wada, Ryoko Kawakami, Kaori Yoshiba, Daisuke Yamaguchi, Yuko Kai, and Takashi Arao
Background: The association of working from home (WFH) with physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) has been explored; however, this association during periods without stringent measures to combat coronavirus disease 2019 is undercharacterized. Particularly, few studies have evaluated the potential effect modification on its associations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations of WFH frequency with accelerometer-measured PA and SB, along with its effect modifiers, among Japanese white-collar workers during the later pandemic period. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 1133 white-collar workers residing in the Tokyo metropolitan area was conducted between April 2022 and March 2023. WFH frequency was evaluated through a self-report questionnaire, while SB and PA during weekdays were measured using a triaxial accelerometer. Linear regression models adjusting for potential confounders were used to examine the association of WFH frequency with PA and SB. Results: Regardless of activity intensity, individuals who worked at home, even for 1 to 2 days per week, demonstrated lower levels of PA and higher levels of SB as compared with those who did not (P < .05). For example, difference between never and ≥5 days per week WFH was approximately 70 minutes/day for total PA and about 4000 steps/day for step counts. Associations between WFH and decreased PA were more pronounced in workers who were older, female, less educated, in sales and service work, nonregular staff, and precontemplating changes in exercise and eating habits. Conclusions: We report that WFH was associated with decreased PA and increased SB in Japanese white-collar workers with pronounced associated in several subgroups.
Context, Climate, and Red Tape: Considerations for Social-Justice Curriculum Development in Kinesiology
Karen Lux Gaudreault, Victoria Shiver, Martin Vasquez, Sean Fullerton, and Luis Sanchez Martinez
Curricula grounded in social justice are vital in higher education, including kinesiology programs. The United States has seen continued increases in diversity, with education consistently displaying poor representation of historically marginalized groups. The purpose of this paper is to offer three elements that kinesiology programs should consider when aiming to successfully engage in developing social-justice curricula: context, climate, and “red tape.” We define and describe each element and how it influences our approach to curriculum development and provide specific examples from our work in the University of New Mexico Physical Education Teacher Education program to illustrate practical implementation. We argue that social-justice curriculum development is required to prepare young professionals to enter the field with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to meet the needs of diverse communities.
Modern Pain Science and Alexander Technique: How Might Alexander Technique Reduce Pain?
Mari Hodges, Rajal G. Cohen, and Timothy W. Cacciatore
This article brings together research from the fields of pain science and Alexander Technique (AT) to investigate the mechanisms by which AT helps reduce pain. AT is a cognitive embodiment practice and a method for intentionally altering habitual postural behavior. Studies show that AT helps with various kinds of pain, although the mechanisms of pain reduction are currently not well understood. Advances in pain science may give insight into how this occurs. Modern interventions with efficacy for improving pain and function are consistent with active approaches within kinesiology. They also share similarities with AT and may have common mechanisms such as learning, mind–body engagement, normalization of sensorimotor function, improvement of psychological factors, and self-efficacy, as well as nonspecific treatment effects. AT likely has additional unique mechanisms, including normalization of muscle tone, neuronal excitability, and tissue loading, as well as alterations to body schema, attention redirection, and reduction in overall reactivity.
Muscle Matters: Bridging the Gap Between Terminology of Age-Related Muscle Loss and Exercise Interventions
Claudio Gil S. Araújo and Nien Xiang Tou
Physical Activity Report Card Indicators and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Insights From Global Matrix 4.0
Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Salomé Aubert, Taru Manyanga, Eun-Young Lee, Deborah Salvo, and Mark S. Tremblay
Background: The World Health Organization recognizes that physical activity (PA) during childhood is crucial for healthy development, aligning well with the achievement of several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aimed to explore the associations between 10 key indicators of PA for children and adolescents assessed in the Global Matrix 4.0 project, and the UN SDGs. Methods: Data from 57 countries/jurisdictions of the Global Matrix 4.0 project were used. The UN SDG indicators were sourced from the SDG Transformation Center, which publishes each country’s performance on each of the 17 SDGs. Given the robust evidence supporting plausible links between PA and SDGs 3 (good health and well-being), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), these SDGs were investigated. Results: Countries/jurisdictions with good and moderate performance in achieving SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 11, and SDG 16 had higher grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving these SDGs for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. However, countries/jurisdictions with good performance in achieving SDG 13 had lower grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving SDG 13 for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. Conclusions: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies were the indicators that demonstrated differences between countries/jurisdictions with good and poor performance in achieving the SDGs.
Bridging The Gap: Promoting Faculty Diversity to Align With Student Demographics
Moh H. Malek, Melissa A. Mache, Gerald J. Jerome, Matthew W. Miller, and Christopher A. Aiken
In many kinesiology and health care science departments in the United States, there is a mismatch between the demographic composition of the student population and the faculty cohort. That is, although student populations are more diverse, the faculty cohort does not reflect this same diversity. The purpose of this paper is threefold: (a) Provide background information on the faculty–student mismatch, (b) discuss reactive strategies to increase diversity among a faculty cohort, and (c) discuss proactive strategies to increase diversity among a faculty cohort. Our approach is pragmatic and concise, which will give the reader various strategies they can incorporate to increase diversity in their faculty cohort.
Can We Talk? Exploring the Effects of Mental Health Stigma, Support, and Openness on National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Mental Health
Braden J. Brown, Ty B. Aller, Logan K. Lyons, Autumn Jenson, Audrey C. Juhasz, Jakob F. Jensen, and Jennifer L. Hodgson
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student athletes may have more stigmatic views toward mental health (MH) and be less open to talking about or seeking support for MH struggles than their peers. This may contribute to and/or exacerbate existing MH challenges. This cross-sectional study explored the impact of MH stigma, support, and openness on student athletes’ levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among 478 NCAA student athletes representing 20 different sports from 56 universities. Results indicated that male, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and Division I athletes reported higher levels of MH stigma. Compared with their White peers, BIPOC athletes exhibited less openness to talk about MH challenges. Division I and BIPOC athletes felt less supported to seek help for MH concerns. Structural equation modeling showed that MH stigma was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas MH openness was negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Research/practical implications, limitations, and future research and athletic department programming needs are discussed.