Physical Activity, Sport, Exercise and society Pg 29-35 Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the social-ecological model?
A framework used to develop, implement and critique health-promotion strategies aimed at improving the health of people by promoting physical activity and limiting sedentary behaviour
SEM Individual:
The individual is at the centre of the social-ecological model, incorporating all the personal factors that influence physical activity and sedentary behaviour:
Knowledge and level of education – the most educated individuals are also the most active
Motivation and enjoyment – intrinsic motivation is strongly linked with higher levels of activity
Motor skills – enjoy what you are good at
Example intervention strategies at an individual level:
Educational programs.
E.g. enrolling in a spin or Zumba class, Pilates etc.
Support groups
E.g. walking groups
Organisational incentives directed at individuals
E.g. subsidised gym membership for all staff who go to the gym at least once per week
Counselling by professionals
Mass media, by targeting individuals to consider being more active
Social environment - SEM
Family, The activity levels of parents and siblings serve as models for children, influencing their physical activity habits. Family support through funding and transportation is also significant.
Spouse/partner, An individual’s romantic partner can serve as a source of motivation for their physical activity choices.
Peers, Peers of similar age can positively or negatively influence an individual’s activity levels, through encouragement or the lack of it.
Physical environment SEM
The physical environment is the natural and human-made environment in which activity can take place. It can determine the type and duration of activities that one undertakes: Natural factors – such as weather, geography and sunlight; those that live where it is warmer and sunnier for more hours of the day are more active
Availability/access to sport and recreation facilities – parks, playgrounds, and bike and walking tracks provide incentive for people to be active
Aesthetics – perceived qualities of a particular facility or environment (eg. A flat walking track surrounded by flowers and trees is more appealing to use
Example intervention strategies at a physical level:
Improve availability and accessibility e.g. introducing ramps or smooth surfaces so that people using wheelchairs can access the area safely
New recreational or sporting facilities built close to a school, community shopping centre or aged-care facility to ensure they are accessible to specific target groups.
Traffic calming measures around school areas in order to improve safety; encouraging more children to walk to and from school.
Improved lighting or walking trails and safer footpaths with better signage.
Improved aesthetics of urban green spaces
Policy environment SEM
Policies include all recommendations, procedures, regulations and legislation that have the potential to affect physical activity. Urban Planning Some urban planning schemes include: providing footpaths for pedestrians, or bike paths for cyclists, and designing built environments to encourage physical activity. Education Each school has its own rules that can promote or deter physical activity (e.g. compulsory sport promotes activity, but sports grounds that are out of bounds deter it). Workplace Each workplace has its own policy that can impact an employee’s physical activity levels (e.g. ‘walk and talk’ meetings and providing standing desks both reduce sedentary behaviour).
Example intervention strategies at a policy level:
Incentives, resources and infrastructure for activity.
Paying employees an extra $500 per year if they use a gym; or a secondary school having access to secondary school physical education teachers
Make changes to the school day to extend lunch breaks
Policies to restrict computer and mobile phone use during lunch breaks.
Get Active Victoria’s Kids Voucher program
population-based initiative aimed at encouraging more people to engage in daily physical activity. which targets under-represented groups facing barriers to participating in sports and recreation. By providing financial assistance, the program addresses barriers to sports participation, increasing access for those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
How the Get Active Victoria’s Kids Voucher program reflects the social-ecological model
Individual Reduces financial barriers to make sports participation more accessible for children, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, enhancing motivation and access. For example, a Victorian child uses a voucher at Auskick for registration fees.
Social environment Collaborates with various organisations (e.g. Athletics Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria, Scouts Victoria, Basketball Victoria) and sporting clubs to provide a broad range of affordable activities, fostering a supportive community environment.
Physical environment Supports access to quality, safe and well-maintained facilities for physical activities by funding registration for reputable providers. For example, gaining access to well-maintained athletics tracks and equipment by Little Athletics Victoria.
Policy Offers financial aid up to $200 to cover membership, registration or participation fees; supports broader policies (e.g. Victoria’s public health and wellbeing plan) to increase physical activity among youth. This initiative aligns with broader Victorian and Australian policies aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour among youth.
VicHealth’s Walk to School program
is an annual event that has been in existence since 2006. It provides awareness to students about the physical, social and environmental benefits of active transport via walking. It encourages students to walk to and from school more often.
How the VicHealth’s Walk to School program reflects the social-ecological model
Individual The program provides awareness of the physical health benefits of walking to and from school and links the program to the Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. Walk to School increases awareness of the other benefits of walking, including the better social and environmental outcomes of walking instead of driving.
Social environment Encourages students to walk together. Local councils provide support, education and funding to schools, fostering community involvement in promoting walking.
Physical environment Some local councils have made changes such as increased lighting on walking paths and tracks to enhance perceived safety when walking to and from school. Less traffic leads to decreased congestion and reduced environmental impact.
Policy VicHealth provides $10 000 of funding to local councils to increase the opportunities for schools to get involved with the program. VicHealth provides free resources, such as stickers, pamphlets and an app, that schools and students can use to enhance the awareness and opportunities for students to walk to and from school.
VicHealth’s This Girl Can program
This Girl Can is a population-based initiative to inspire all women to be ‘more active, whenever and wherever they choose, without being judged’. It was launched in 2018.
How the VicHealth’s This Girl Can program reflects the social-ecological model
Individual The program addresses motivation by providing case studies of successful women who have become more active. The initiative provides advice on ways to find women’s group training sessions in their local area, which can reduce psychological barriers some women may have to engage in rigorous physical activity.
Social environment Through various social media campaigns and local ambassador the community has become more supportive for women who want to increase their physical activity levels.
Physical environment This Girl Can promotes educational resources such as videos for women to engage in physical activity without leaving the home, and therefore physical environmental factors such as the safety and weather are often not an issue. On their website, there are many ‘Get Active @ Home’ activities that range from under 10 minutes to over 30 minutes to accommodate for a range of women’s different needs
Policy The This Girl Can initiative obtained funding to help establish and strengthen partnerships through high-profile sporting organisations and funding new, social and flexible activities for Victorian women and girls to get active.
Explain the Indigenous Marathon Project
The Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) uses running to change lives and provide a renewed sense of empowerment, purpose and pride among First Nations people. It was established in 2009. Every year a group of 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between the ages of 18 and 30 are selected to run in the prestigious New York City Marathon.
How the Indigenous Marathon Project reflects the social-ecological model
