Author(s): KNAPPE, F., FILIPPOU, K., HATZIGEORGIADIS, A., MORRES, I.D., GERBER, M., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF BASEL, Country: SWITZERLAND, Abstract-ID: 619

INTRODUCTION:
According to UNHCRs report (2023), the global incidence of forced displacement has escalated. On average, 36.3 individuals per minute are forced to abandon their homes due to political, economic, and environmental factors. Adapting to a new environment can present significant challenges for affected individuals, including mastering the local language or getting and keeping a job. Social integration requires high functional capabilities, which can be compromised by harsh post-migration living conditions (Schick et al., 2018). In light of these challenges, our objective was to evaluate the effects of exercise and sport on cognitive function and pain alleviation among residents of a refugee camp in Greece and to examine cardiorespiratory fitness as a potential mediator.
METHODS:
We conducted a randomized controlled trial. A total of 142 forcibly displaced individuals (52.8% women) were enrolled and assigned to either the intervention group or the wait-list control group. The intervention group participated in co-designed exercise and sport activities for 10 weeks. Co-design was a collaborative approach with service users, staff, and camp management to tailor the intervention and meet individual, cultural, and situational needs. Outcomes included sustained attention, inhibitory control, pain, and cardiorespiratory fitness. The analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.
RESULTS:
In the intervention group, 73.5% of participants engaged in exercise and sport activities weekly. There was no evidence for a direct intervention effect on cognitive function or pain (p≥.410). However, compared to the wait-list control group, there was a significant increase in cardiorespiratory fitness in the intervention group at T2, ß=.18, p=.008. Improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with enhanced reaction times in cognitive tasks, ß=-.23, p=.009, though it had no significant effect on pain scores, ß=.06, p=.500. Sensitivity analysis showed that participation rate was linked to a decrease in pain scores at T2, ß=-.15, p=.037.
CONCLUSION:
Initiating exercise and sport within a Greek refugee camp targets a broader population and enhances cardiorespiratory fitness among forcibly displaced individuals. The potential benefits of these activities on cognitive function and pain appear to be related to improved cardiorespiratory fitness and regular participation.