scholarly journals Unspoken Playground Rules Discourage Adolescent Physical Activity in School: A Focus Group Study of Constructs in the Prototype Willingness Model

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Wheatley ◽  
Emma L. Davies ◽  
Helen Dawes

The health benefits of exercise in school are recognized, yet physical activity continues to decline during early adolescence despite numerous interventions. In this study, we investigated whether the prototype willingness model, an account of adolescent decision making that includes both reasoned behavioral choices and unplanned responses to social environments, might improve understanding of physical activity in school. We conducted focus groups with British pupils aged 12 to 13 years and used deductive thematic analysis to search for themes relating to the model. Participants described reasoned decisions about physical activity outside school and unplanned choices to be inactive during break, in response to social contexts described as more “judgmental” than in primary school. Social contexts appeared characterized by anxiety about competence, negative peer evaluation, and inactive playground norms. The prototype willingness model might more fully explain physical activity in school than reasoned behavioral models alone, indicating potential for interventions targeting anxieties about playground social environments.

2021 ◽  
pp. 204946372110260
Author(s):  
Daniel Whibley ◽  
Kevin Stelfox ◽  
Alasdair L Henry ◽  
Nicole KY Tang ◽  
Anna L Kratz

Objective: Suboptimal sleep and physical activity are common among people living with osteoarthritis (OA) and simultaneous improvements in both may have a beneficial impact on pain. This study aimed to gather perspectives of people living with OA on important aspects to incorporate in a hybrid sleep and physical activity improvement intervention for OA pain management. Design: Qualitative study using two rounds of two focus groups. Setting and participants: Focus groups were conducted with adults living with OA-related chronic pain and sleep disturbances. Eighteen people attended focus groups in January 2020 and, of these, 16 attended subsequent focus groups in February 2020. Methods: Discussion at the first round of focus groups informed generation of prototype intervention materials that were shared, discussed and refined at the second round of focus groups. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and sub-themes from the data. Results: Three themes, each with three sub-themes, were identified: facilitators of engagement with the intervention (sub-themes: motivational language, accountability and education); barriers to engagement (sub-themes: suboptimal interaction with healthcare practitioners, recording behaviour as burdensome/disruptive and uncertainty about technique) and characteristics of a physical activity intervention component (sub-themes: tailored, sustainable and supported). Conclusion: We have identified important aspects to incorporate into the design and delivery of a hybrid sleep and physical activity improvement intervention for OA pain management. Insights will be incorporated into intervention materials and protocols, with feasibility and acceptability assessed in a future study.


Author(s):  
Dorothée Altmeier ◽  
Ansgar Thiel ◽  
Annika Frahsa

(1) Background: Despite high prevalence of physical inactivity and sedentariness among nursing home residents, research on the influence of environments on this topic remains scarce. This Photovoice study explores how structural and social environments relate to residents’ everyday physical activity (PA). (2) Methods: 27 residents, staff, and significant others conducted Photovoice in eight nursing homes in Germany to document factors facilitating or hindering PA. Photographs were discussed with the participants in eight focus groups and analysed using thematic analysis. (3) Results: 169 photographs (between 8 and 42per home) were categorized into three thematic groups: (1) ‘architectural challenges for PA promotion in nursing homes’; (2) ‘opportunities and limitations of using daily work equipment for PA promotion’; (3) ‘social incentives for PA promotion’. Photographs’ foci in the homes differed considerably between participant groups. Staff primarily chose environmental constructions and aids that they perceived to enable residents’ PA. Residents were more likely to express affections and emotions that would encourage them to be active. (4) Conclusions: PA promotion research in this setting should be sensitive to diverse perceptions of different stakeholder groups and existing power imbalances. Interventions are needed that integrate residents’ needs and train staff on how to consider residents’ perspectives.


2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110127
Author(s):  
Leanne Tyson ◽  
Wendy Hardeman ◽  
Gareth Stratton ◽  
Andrew M Wilson ◽  
Joanna Semlyen

This study aimed to explore how social distancing and self-isolation measures, aimed at protecting vulnerable groups from COVID-19, affected the wellbeing and physical activity levels among adults diagnosed with asthma. Twenty-seven participants took part across four online focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants reported becoming more health conscious due to being labelled as vulnerable. Their relationship with the severity of their asthma was altered and they reported making positive changes to increase their physical activity levels. Findings suggest there is a window of opportunity to engage with people diagnosed with asthma to promote beneficial lifestyle changes and self-management.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C. Duncan ◽  
John R. Seeley ◽  
Jeff M. Gau ◽  
Lisa A. Strycker ◽  
Richard F. Farmer

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