ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH09
Background The development of youths physical activity practices occurs through a complex interplay of social, cultural, and geographical factors. Previous research highlights the dual role of sport in rural communities, where it fosters social belonging and identity but also reinforces exclusion and traditional ideals. Aim This study examines how embodied socialization occurs among youth in a depopulation-affected rural environment in Sweden. Research questions were: What type of sporting body is shaped by growing up in a rural environment? Which activities contribute to the creation of this body? Method: This study draws on Elders socialization theory, where a places physical and sociocultural traits, along with parents, institutions, and socio-historical events, shape life trajectories. Embodied socialization was, thus, examined in relation to the areas social environment as well as rural culture, traditions, and economic decline. A qualitative approach was used, employing retrospective biographical interviews with six young individuals (girls=3). Each participant was interviewed individually on two occasions to allow for in-depth analysis. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were produced from the analysis: ‘Physical activities run in the family’ highlights how generationally transmitted activities shape young peoples understanding of desirable physical activity and bodies. The theme “Traditions in social institutions” illustrates how schools and local community organizations reproduce preferences for nature-based activities such as hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing, and running. The third theme, “New sports – same ideals”, reveals how modern fitness activities, such as gym training, becoming more popular, align with traditional ideals of a healthy, strong, and resilient body, making them accepted within the local community. Discussion The results illustrate how family and community institutions reinforce traditional bodily ideals, with the rural environment and nature playing a central role. This particular rural area is oriented towards forestry, hunting, and fishing rather than farming, which is reflected in the types of bodily ideals that emerge in the narratives of young people. Nostalgia is also evident in the older generation’s efforts to encourage youth to continue with traditional sports such as biathlon, ski jumping, and cross-country skiing. This nostalgia, which sustains traditional values in the shaping of bodies, can be understood as a response to societal restructuring and the decline of rural communities. A potential consequence is the limitation of opportunities for youth to explore new movement identities beyond traditionally valued physical activities.
Read CV Johan HögmanECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH09
Background. Technology is increasingly omnipresent in our lives. Consequently, youth is currently challenged by sedentariness. Physical activity may counter today’s effortlessness lifestyle. This is particularly important for development from early childhood to adolescence. Active leisure guided by parents, coaches, and instructors likely contributes to cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skill development and active lifestyle habits. This is reinforced through social modeling and structured activities. To date, there is no documentation that examines distinct pathways of active leisure and sport participation from toddlerhood to emerging adulthood. Using a longitudinal birth cohort of millennial boys and girls, we generate trajectories of sport and physical activity participation in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Methods. Participants from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD) with complete participation data at trajectory start-point ages (2.5, 6, and 12 years) resulted 1995 early childhood participants (50.4% boys), 1492 middle childhood participants (49.2% boys), and 1344 participants in adolescence (47.8% boys). Parents reported on the frequency at which they participated in sport, active hobbies/games with their child from ages 2.5 to 5 years as well as the frequency at which their child participated in organized sport from ages 6 to 10 years. Youth self-reported their level of leisure physical activity (frequency, duration, and perceived intensity) from ages 12 to 17 years. Sex-stratified growth mixture modelling analyses identified series of trajectories: active family leisure in early childhood, extracurricular sport in middle childhood, and active leisure in adolescence. Results. Longitudinal latent class growth analyses identified trajectories at three childhood periods from early childhood to emerging adulthood. Two early childhood trajectories: low-decreasing trajectory (70% boys, 72% girls) and high-decreasing trajectory (30% boys, 28% girls). Two middle childhood trajectories: for boys, low trajectory (64%) and moderate-increasing trajectory (36%) and for girls, low-increasing trajectory (33%) and high-increasing trajectory (67%). Several trajectories were distinguished in adolescence. For boys, three trajectories were identified: consistently-low (44%), high-decreasing (14%), and high-increasing (42%). For girls, two trajectories were identified: low-decreasing (68.5%) and high-increasing (31.5%). Conclusion. Throughout childhood and adolescence, active leisure takes many forms and changes over time. Adults provide guidance and opportunities for enriched development and lifestyle habits. As a first, this study highlights the distinct trajectories of sport and physical activity participation of boys and girls at important developmental periods. The findings inform parents, educators, and policy-makers about trends and critical turning points for physical activity participation.
Read CV Kianoush HarandianECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH09
Introduction As the global aging society becomes the norm, a potential market foundation is laid for the silver economy. "Sports, Health, and Wellness" (SHW), as an important component driving the development of the silver economy, plays a significant role in enhancing the physical fitness and improving the quality of life of the elderly. However, the development of the SHW pattern in China currently faces such as insufficient demand, homogeneous supply and low efficiency of industrial integration, making it difficult to meet the increasingly diversified needs of the elderly population in China. This study aims to explore the optimization paths of the SHW pattern under the silver economy, enrich the theoretical framework of the SHW pattern. Methods Employed mixed-methods approach. (1) By collecting and analyzing literature, policy documents, and expert interpretations from international sources, summarized China’s current status and future development paths of the SHW pattern. (2) Fifteen elderly individuals from Anhui and Shanghai were interviewed to investigate their awareness and needs regarding the SHW pattern across different provinces and cities. (3) Two sports towns in Anhui and Shanghai were examined on-site to understand the actual operation, service content, and satisfaction levels of the elderly with the SHW pattern. Through quantitative data analysis, the study compares the health data, participation frequency in SHW activities, and consumption patterns of the elderly in the two regions, revealing the developmental differences of the SHW model in different areas and the actual needs of the elderly. Results (1) Opportunities: In recent years, driven by improved economic and social conditions, policy dividends, and a shift in social attitudes, the awareness of fitness for all has been increasingly awakened in China, unleashing the potential for the development of the SHW pattern. (2) Challenges: Due to the relatively late development of the SHW pattern in China, there are still issues to be addressed, such as incomplete policy formulation, homogeneous service products, and insufficient public awareness. Additionally, the SHW pattern has not yet been widely promoted in China, and the demand from the public, especially the elderly, needs to be further stimulated. (3) Pathways: The development of the SHW pattern in China requires a multi-dimensional approach, starting from the top-level design, market cultivation, technological innovation, and talent supply. Strengthening health education for the elderly is also essential to fundamentally address these issues and unleash the potential of the SHW pattern in the silver economy to cope with aging. Conclusion The development of the SHW pattern in China should adhere to the people-centered development philosophy. By constructing a new model and pattern for SHW, creating a more fulfilling and happy life for the elderly.
Read CV Zhang ZhaoECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH09