Sports-based recreation as a means to address social inequity in health: Why, when, where, who, what, and how

Peter Elsborg; Glen Nielsen; Charlotte Dermant Klinker; Paulina Sander Melby; Julie Hellesøe Christensen; Peter Bentsen

doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7428-3

Sports-based recreation as a means to address social inequity in health: Why, when, where, who, what, and how

Peter Elsborg^*, Glen Nielsen, Charlotte Dermant Klinker, Paulina Sander Melby, Julie Hellesøe Christensen, Peter Bentsen

^*Corresponding author for this work

1 Citation (Scopus)

18 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The rising global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among people with low socioeconomic status (SES) has heightened awareness of the need for primary prevention programs in low-SES neighborhoods. Social inequity in health is apparent in mental, social and physical aspects of health among people living in low-SES neighborhoods. Viewing this problem from a life course perspective and adopting a vulnerable population approach points to the importance of inducing sustainable health behavior changes in children and young people living in low-SES neighborhoods. One important factor in lowering the risk of many NCDs while improving mental health is the promotion of physical activity (PA). In this paper, we argue that lowering the risk of many NCDs and improving mental health is best achieved through setting-based programs that facilitate long-term PA behavior changes in children and adolescents living in marginalized neighborhoods. Empirical evidence indicates that extrinsic motives for participating in physical activities, such as improving health, are insufficient when long-term participation is the goal. Therefore, we argue that interventions with the aim of affecting long-term PA in low-SES neighborhoods and thereby reducing social inequities in health should include activities that aim to create more intrinsic and autonomous motivations by building on more broad and positive understandings of health and participation. Here, we advocate that sports-based recreation (SR) holds several advantages. If implemented well, SR has the potential to be a health-promoting activity that is meaningful and motivating in itself and that involves physiological health-promoting aspects (e.g., PA), a social aspect (e.g., positive relations with others), and a psychological aspect (e.g., positive experiences of oneself). Further, we suggest four practicalities that should be considered when conducting interventions: the cost of participating, the location, the facilities required, and the suitability of the SR activities.

Original language	English
Article number	1084
Journal	B M C Public Health
Volume	19
Number of pages	9
ISSN	1471-2458
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7428-3
Publication status	Published - 2019

Keywords

Disadvantaged neighborhoods
Health
Low socioeconomic status
Noncommunicable diseases
Recreation
Social inequity in health
Youth

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1186/s12889-019-7428-3Licence: CC BY

Elsborg et al_B M C Public Health_2019_Vol 19_e1084Final published version, 1.34 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{366248e6c700406097a35cc8b7d9b9bf,

title = "Sports-based recreation as a means to address social inequity in health: Why, when, where, who, what, and how",

abstract = "The rising global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among people with low socioeconomic status (SES) has heightened awareness of the need for primary prevention programs in low-SES neighborhoods. Social inequity in health is apparent in mental, social and physical aspects of health among people living in low-SES neighborhoods. Viewing this problem from a life course perspective and adopting a vulnerable population approach points to the importance of inducing sustainable health behavior changes in children and young people living in low-SES neighborhoods. One important factor in lowering the risk of many NCDs while improving mental health is the promotion of physical activity (PA). In this paper, we argue that lowering the risk of many NCDs and improving mental health is best achieved through setting-based programs that facilitate long-term PA behavior changes in children and adolescents living in marginalized neighborhoods. Empirical evidence indicates that extrinsic motives for participating in physical activities, such as improving health, are insufficient when long-term participation is the goal. Therefore, we argue that interventions with the aim of affecting long-term PA in low-SES neighborhoods and thereby reducing social inequities in health should include activities that aim to create more intrinsic and autonomous motivations by building on more broad and positive understandings of health and participation. Here, we advocate that sports-based recreation (SR) holds several advantages. If implemented well, SR has the potential to be a health-promoting activity that is meaningful and motivating in itself and that involves physiological health-promoting aspects (e.g., PA), a social aspect (e.g., positive relations with others), and a psychological aspect (e.g., positive experiences of oneself). Further, we suggest four practicalities that should be considered when conducting interventions: the cost of participating, the location, the facilities required, and the suitability of the SR activities.",

keywords = "Disadvantaged neighborhoods, Health, Low socioeconomic status, Noncommunicable diseases, Recreation, Social inequity in health, Youth",

author = "Peter Elsborg and Glen Nielsen and Klinker, {Charlotte Dermant} and Melby, {Paulina Sander} and Christensen, {Julie Helles{\o}e} and Peter Bentsen",

note = "CURIS 2019 NEXS 288",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1186/s12889-019-7428-3",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

journal = "B M C Public Health",

issn = "1471-2458",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sports-based recreation as a means to address social inequity in health

T2 - Why, when, where, who, what, and how

AU - Elsborg, Peter

AU - Nielsen, Glen

AU - Klinker, Charlotte Dermant

AU - Melby, Paulina Sander

AU - Christensen, Julie Hellesøe

AU - Bentsen, Peter

N1 - CURIS 2019 NEXS 288

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The rising global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among people with low socioeconomic status (SES) has heightened awareness of the need for primary prevention programs in low-SES neighborhoods. Social inequity in health is apparent in mental, social and physical aspects of health among people living in low-SES neighborhoods. Viewing this problem from a life course perspective and adopting a vulnerable population approach points to the importance of inducing sustainable health behavior changes in children and young people living in low-SES neighborhoods. One important factor in lowering the risk of many NCDs while improving mental health is the promotion of physical activity (PA). In this paper, we argue that lowering the risk of many NCDs and improving mental health is best achieved through setting-based programs that facilitate long-term PA behavior changes in children and adolescents living in marginalized neighborhoods. Empirical evidence indicates that extrinsic motives for participating in physical activities, such as improving health, are insufficient when long-term participation is the goal. Therefore, we argue that interventions with the aim of affecting long-term PA in low-SES neighborhoods and thereby reducing social inequities in health should include activities that aim to create more intrinsic and autonomous motivations by building on more broad and positive understandings of health and participation. Here, we advocate that sports-based recreation (SR) holds several advantages. If implemented well, SR has the potential to be a health-promoting activity that is meaningful and motivating in itself and that involves physiological health-promoting aspects (e.g., PA), a social aspect (e.g., positive relations with others), and a psychological aspect (e.g., positive experiences of oneself). Further, we suggest four practicalities that should be considered when conducting interventions: the cost of participating, the location, the facilities required, and the suitability of the SR activities.

AB - The rising global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among people with low socioeconomic status (SES) has heightened awareness of the need for primary prevention programs in low-SES neighborhoods. Social inequity in health is apparent in mental, social and physical aspects of health among people living in low-SES neighborhoods. Viewing this problem from a life course perspective and adopting a vulnerable population approach points to the importance of inducing sustainable health behavior changes in children and young people living in low-SES neighborhoods. One important factor in lowering the risk of many NCDs while improving mental health is the promotion of physical activity (PA). In this paper, we argue that lowering the risk of many NCDs and improving mental health is best achieved through setting-based programs that facilitate long-term PA behavior changes in children and adolescents living in marginalized neighborhoods. Empirical evidence indicates that extrinsic motives for participating in physical activities, such as improving health, are insufficient when long-term participation is the goal. Therefore, we argue that interventions with the aim of affecting long-term PA in low-SES neighborhoods and thereby reducing social inequities in health should include activities that aim to create more intrinsic and autonomous motivations by building on more broad and positive understandings of health and participation. Here, we advocate that sports-based recreation (SR) holds several advantages. If implemented well, SR has the potential to be a health-promoting activity that is meaningful and motivating in itself and that involves physiological health-promoting aspects (e.g., PA), a social aspect (e.g., positive relations with others), and a psychological aspect (e.g., positive experiences of oneself). Further, we suggest four practicalities that should be considered when conducting interventions: the cost of participating, the location, the facilities required, and the suitability of the SR activities.

KW - Disadvantaged neighborhoods

KW - Health

KW - Low socioeconomic status

KW - Noncommunicable diseases

KW - Recreation

KW - Social inequity in health

KW - Youth

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070449650&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-019-7428-3

DO - 10.1186/s12889-019-7428-3

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31399029

AN - SCOPUS:85070449650

SN - 1471-2458

VL - 19

JO - B M C Public Health

JF - B M C Public Health

M1 - 1084

ER -

Sports-based recreation as a means to address social inequity in health: Why, when, where, who, what, and how

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this