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Volume 21 (2024): Issue 11 (Nov 2024)

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Volume 13 (2024): Issue 4 (Nov 2024): 2024 American Kinesiology Association Leadership Workshop: Addressing Social Justice Imperatives—Exemplars of Inclusive Excellence

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No “Failures of Kindness”

David K. Wiggins

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Results From the First Para Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities in Chile

Nicolas Aguilar-Farias, Sebastian Miranda-Marquez, Marcelo Toledo-Vargas, Kabir P. Sadarangani, Jessica Ibarra-Mora, Pia Martino-Fuentealba, Fernando Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Carlos Cristi-Montero, Matías Henríquez, and Andrea Cortinez-O’Ryan

Background: Global initiatives have been put in place to attain a thorough understanding of worldwide variations in physical activity (PA) among children and adolescents. Yet, there is limited knowledge about PA-related indicators, specifically for children and adolescents with disabilities (CAWD). To bridge this data gap, the Global Matrix of Para Report Cards (PRCs) of CAWD initiative was established to address the scarcity of information on PA for this population globally. The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize the results of Chile’s First PRC on PA for CAWD. Methods: Chile’s PRC included 10 core PA indicators common to the Global Matrix of PRCs. Evidence from scientific articles, reports, and databases available or released from 2018 to January 2022 was included for each indicator. A scientific committee collected and analyzed the data, assigning letter grades (A–F) based on benchmarks. Results: The grades assigned were as follows: Overall PA, D−; Organized Sports and Physical Activity Participation, C−; Active Play, INCOMPLETE; Active Transportation, D−; Sedentary Behavior, F; Physical Fitness, INCOMPLETE; Family and Peers, D+; School, C+; Community and Environment, D+; Government, B−. Conclusions: Chile scored low in most indicators. Although some efforts have been made in the last decade in terms of policies, these have not been reflected in PA and related behaviors in CAWD. The results underscore that maintaining the current situation is inadequate for addressing the widespread problem of physical inactivity among CAWD in Chile, emphasizing the urgency for substantial changes and a comprehensive approach to effectively combat this crisis.

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Social Comparison, Social Indispensability, or Both? On the Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Effort Gains in Swimming Relays

Ann-Kathrin Torka, Joachim Hüffmeier, Sebastian Fischer, and Claudia Braun

Members of swimming relays often show effort gains in relays (i.e., more effort and faster swimming times in the relay vs. the individual competition). The weakest relay members typically exhibit the most pronounced effort gains. However, the underlying psychological processes are unclear. Prior research suggests social comparisons with stronger fellow relay members, perceived social indispensability, or a combination of both processes as plausible mediators. In Study 1, using linear mixed model and regression analyses on N = 239 observations from 222 elite U.S. college swimmers, we found empirical support only for the social indispensability hypothesis. Study 2, a survey among N = 46 German national team swimmers, substantiated the results, because the athletes most often mentioned processes related to social indispensability as motivating them. Our findings offer theoretical conclusions for expectancy × value models on team member effort expenditure and practical implications for coaching and selecting the weakest members for swimming relays.

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A Multilevel Model to Explain the Opportunities for and Experiences of LGBTQ+ People in Elite American Football

George B. Cunningham, Kelsey M. Garrison, and Umer Hussain

American football holds immense cultural significance, from its impressive youth participation rates to the coverage of professional football. However, the reach of American football extends beyond cultural significance, as societal values and norms are frequently mimicked or even amplified in major sport settings. American football is a context that highlights the privileges of heterosexuality and cisgender people, effectively discouraging people from disclosing their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) status. Because LGBTQ+ inclusion has received less attention in the American football context, and bias against LGBTQ+ people is common in sport, this paper aimed to explore LGBTQ+ inclusion in American football. Drawing on our related scholarship in this area, we present a multilevel framework, highlighting macrolevel (i.e., societal), mesolevel (i.e., organizational), and microlevel (i.e., individual) factors that shape LGBTQ+ inclusion in American football. The discussion includes strategies to implement LGBTQ+ inclusion in American football, as well as a call for further research.

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The Use of OPTIMAL Instructions and Feedback in Physical Education Settings

Thomas Simpson, Lorcan Cronin, Paul Ellison, Thomas Hawkins, Evelyn Carnegie, and David Marchant

In physical education (PE), the use of instruction and feedback is central to children’s motor skill learning. Recently, it has been identified that instruction, and feedback, which promote OPTIMAL theory motor learning factors (e.g., an external focus of attention, enhanced expectancies, and autonomy support) can enhance children’s motor learning. However, it is unclear how PE teachers use OPTIMAL instructional approaches and therefore, was examined in the present study. Verbal statements (n = 5,765) from seven PE teachers (mean age: 39.29 ± 7.19 years) over 10 PE lessons were collected and thematically analyzed. Results indicate that PE teachers use more externally focused (25%) versus internally focused (10%) instructional behaviors. Moreover, PE teachers used instructional approaches that enhanced (35%) as compared with diminished expectancies (8%) in addition to statements which supported (35%) rather than thwarted (23%) autonomy. Overall, PE teachers appear to use instructional behaviors which support OPTIMAL motor learning; however, more efforts are needed to improve the provision of optimized instructional behaviors. Additionally, the findings indicate that OPTIMAL instructions and feedback are rarely delivered in isolation and may be influenced by the contextual factors of PE and sometimes conflict in their delivery (i.e., externally focused and autonomy thwarting).

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Association Between Physical Activity and Performance in Skill Learning Among Older Adults Based on Cognitive Function

Satoshi Kasahara, Ami Chiba, Linjing Jiang, Tomoya Ishida, Yuta Koshino, Mina Samukawa, Hiroshi Saito, and Harukazu Tohyama

Background/Objectives: Most older adults experience cognitive and physical functioning problems; however, they require the ability to learn skills in response to age-related or social environmental changes for independent living. This study aimed to clarify the associations between age-related physical activity and performance in skill learning tasks based on cognitive function. Methods: Fifty-eight adults participated in this study and were divided into two groups: the control group (aged under 65 years) and older adult group (aged over 65). All the participants performed two-skill learning exercises based on cognitive function. Habitual exercise was measured using an accelerometer and a self-reported questionnaire. Results: At baseline, the scores on skill tasks were lower in the older adult group than in the control group and were associated with habitual exercise and motor performance. Skill acquisition, observed in both groups, was associated with age and self-reported physical activity. Retention of the acquired skill was not associated with habitual exercise, and it declined significantly in the older group. Conclusions: Skill acquisition was maintained regardless of age; however, the ability to retain the acquired skills decreased among the older adults. Habitual physical activity was associated with skill acquisition but not the retention of the acquired skill. Significance/Implications: The study findings highlight the association between habitual exercise and motor skill learning in older adults, providing insight for practitioners in the rehabilitation and health care fields.

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The COVID Pandemic Worsened Physical Activity Disproportionately in Frailer Adults: A Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Myles O’Brien, Andrea Mayo, and Olga Theou

Introduction: Frailty is associated with increased hospitalization and mortality and may be exacerbated with physical inactivity. The COVID-19 pandemic has heterogeneously impacted peoples’ physical activity level, but the impact on the frail population is unclear. Objective: The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that higher frailty levels were associated with worse changes in physical activity, ability to move around the home, and do housework during the pandemic. Methods: We included 23,303 Canadians (age: 69.1 ± 9.5 years, 53% females) who participated in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging COVID-19 Questionnaire study. Frailty prior to the pandemic (follow-up 1: 2015–2018) was measured via 52-item frailty index and grouped into 0.00–0.05, 0.05–0.10, 0.10–0.20, and >0.20 scores. Participants were asked whether they changed their levels of physical activity, ability to move at home, and ability to do housework during the pandemic. Results: The average frailty level was 0.09 ± 0.06. Compared with the lowest frailty group, participants with frailty levels >0.20 reported worse physical activity (17% vs. 45%), worse ability to move at home (3% vs. 26%), and perform housework (3% vs. 27%). Covariate-adjusted logistic regression models demonstrated that higher frailty level was associated with a greater odds of reporting worse physical activity (reference: 0.00–0.05; odds ratio for frailty index >0.20:4.03, 95% confidence interval [3.33, 4.87]), worse ability to move in home (odds ratio  = 11.16, 95% confidence interval [8.28, 15.03]), and worse ability doing housework (odds ratio  = 12.58, 95% confidence interval [9.24, 17.13]). Conclusions: The adverse changes in physical activity levels and ability to move at home among frail older adults during the pandemic document the need for strategies to help vulnerable populations move more.

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Associations Between Sedentary Behavior and Motor Competence in 3- to 4-Year-Olds: A Systematic Review

Nana A. Kwofie, Xanne Janssen, and John J. Reilly

Background: Several studies have reported low adherence to World Health Organization sedentary behavior (SB) guidelines in the early years. The purpose of this review is to examine the associations between time spent in different types of SB (screen time and habitual SB) and motor competence (MC; fundamental motor skills, fine and gross motor skills, locomotor skills, and object control and balance) in 3- to 4-year-olds. Methods: Five databases were searched on the 27th of July 2021, with an updated search conducted on the 30th of September 2023: Web of Science (core collection), PubMed Central, EMBASE (Ovid), SPORT Discus, and ERIC. Studies were included in the review if they reported on an association between time spent in SB at ages 3–4 years and MC. The methodological quality for each of the included studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Vote counting was used to determine the direction of associations. Results: Of 5,276 total studies found in the search, 16 studies (12 cross-sectional, four longitudinal) from 11 different countries met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies examined the association between screen time and MC, six examined associations between time spent in SB and MC, and three examined the association of both screen time and time spent in SB with MC. The direction of associations was predominantly negative for both screen time and time spent in habitual SB with different components of MC. Quality of evidence ranged from three to seven out of nine for cross-sectional studies and six to nine out of 12 for longitudinal studies. Conclusions: There may be negative associations between time spent sedentary and MC in 3- to 4-year-olds. However, future studies with stronger study designs are required to confirm these associations. Findings from this review should be considered when designing strategies and interventions to promote adherence to SB guidelines.