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This study contributes to a growing body of scholarly discussions around the many aspects and challenges of combining parenthood with elite-level sport, with a particular focus on the experiences of male elite athletes who are fathers. We used a caring masculinities theoretical framework, community-based participatory research, and semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of 10 elite/international and world-class athletes (n= 9 fathers, n= 1 expectant father). Through reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three main themes: fatherhood can (1) improve and (2) impede elite athlete-fathers’ athletic performance; and (3) athlete-fathers experience a trade-off between athletic performance and fatherhood responsibilities. Our findings underscore the ways in which male athletes’ experiences with parenthood reflect the new era of involved fatherhood and are analogous to some of the identity tensions that have been reported with regard to the experiences of elite female athletes who are pregnant and/or mothers. Recognizing the impact of children on male athletes’ athletic careers and the parallels between fatherhood, motherhood, and elite sport may lead to better support for athlete-fathers while also contributing to diminishing the expectation that women are primary caregivers to children.

Recently, motherhood and pregnancy in elite sport have received increased attention in sport media. Through a comprehensive news media search across Factiva as well as a gray literature search using Google search engine, we analyzed 115 articles using feminist framing analysis. We developed two primary frames: 1) empowerment versus exploitation, and 2) proactivity versus reactivity. Our results show that many pregnant and parenting athletes frame their respective sponsors as exploitative for recognizing and capitalizing upon their unique marketing value, while these same corporate sponsors frame themselves as industry leaders who empower pregnant and parenting athletes. These two frames show that pregnant/parenting elite athletes commonly face discriminatory policies and practices and that there is often a lack of congruence between marketing and actual corporate practices and policies. These findings arguably reflect larger societal issues related to gender equity and highlight the importance of action over rhetoric to ensure motherhood is supported—rather than marketed—for elite athletes.

ABSTRACTSocial learning spaces, such as communities of practice or landscapes of practice, are purported to promote ongoing education and meaningful engagement which can lead to innovations. This research explores the potential of a social learning space focused on expanding the use of trauma- and violence-informed physical activity (TVIPA) approaches to improve access to physical activity resources for individuals who (have) experience(d) trauma. As part of a larger feminist participatory action mixed-methods study, the purpose of this qualitative research is twofold: 1) to determine if the development of a social learning space, such as a community of practice or a landscape of practice was warranted by TVIPA experts and community leads; and 2) to understand the characteristics of a successful social learning space. Semi-structured interviews (n = 10) were conducted with key informants from the fields of TVIPA and social learning. Through inductive reflexive thematic analysis, two themes were identified: 1) a successful community of practice require funding, exchange, collaboration, and reflective practice; and 2) a community of practice must be aligned with the goals of the community, hold true to the tenets of TVI programming, and be multidisciplinary/levelled. Our findings support the development of a TVIPA landscape of practice that involves all stakeholders, particularly community members and program participants, with the aim of supporting individuals who have experienced trauma to be physically active.

The purpose of this study was to understand physical activity experiences of pregnant and/or parenting individuals (PPI) who have histories of trauma. Utilizing feminist participatory action research, we conducted five focus groups (n= 37) with PPI and semi-structured interviews (n= 10) with service providers. Three themes were generated: (1) poverty and impoverished neighbourhoods limit availability of/ access to physical activity programs; (2) existing physical activity programs are not appropriate/appealing to PPI in this community; and (3) PPI live with multiple fears and judgment that impedes their physical activity. To adequately tackle health inequities, we propose a shift towards trauma- and violence-informed physical activity programming.

ABSTRACTNow more than ever, scholars argue that Canadians live in a risk-adverse society. The preoccupation with children’s safety has restricted where and how Canadian children play, with fewer children playing in playgrounds and streets and instead playing closer to home. Fewer children are thus engaging in active, independent, free, and risky outdoor play. In response to this, the 2015 release of the Position Statement on Active Outdoor Playurges parents to allow their children to play more freely and independently outdoors and experience more risk-taking during play. This paper critiques the PSAOPby offering critical insight into the ways in which it fails to consider children who are of Aboriginal (i.e. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) status, interact with at-risk environments on a continual basis, and live in rural and remote communities and households. Further, the PSAOPdoes not address important sex-based considerations. Our critique demonstrates that a nation-wide statement promoting all children’s engagement with active outdoor play may in fact be risky.

AbstractFirst Nations and Métis women in Canada experience increased risk of poor health outcomes in pregnancy compared to non-Aboriginal women. There is limited literature on the availability and use of physical activity (PA) and obesity prevention resources for Aboriginal women during pregnancy, which are important components of prenatal health care. This paper aims to demonstrate how community-based participatory research (CBPR) led to the development of a resource for urban Aboriginal women to support them in being physically active and preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Participants, who included pregnant or postpartum women and care providers who serve Aboriginal women during pregnancy, indicated a lack of access to relevant pregnancy resources. Participants suggested the development of a culturally safe online pregnancy application created for/with urban Aboriginal women in Ottawa. We contend that CBPR is an effective approach to health promotion and technology development that can lead to community-generated, culturally safe, relevant, and creative health interventions.

Cultural safety is an approach currently used in health care that is meant to address health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and colonizing practices in health care. It has been found to empower patient decision-making and result in a relationship where patients and providers work together towards effective care. In this commentary, we argue that such an approach needs to be employed in physical activity promotion and programs as another way of addressing health disparities that continue to exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Further, we assert that cultural safety can address the critiques that have been made of attempts to use cultural sensitivity, cultural relevancy, and cultural competency training for physical activity providers and in implementing physical activity programs. Cultural safety in physical activity promotion and programs is not only an ethical practice, but also one that has the potential to significantly improve the health of Indigenous peoples, which could lead to related improvements in quality of life, lowering rates of morbidity and mortality, and resulting in considerable savings to the health care sector. La sécurisation culturelle est une approche actuellement utilisée dans le domaine de la santé qui vise à aborder les disparités d’état sanitaire entre les populations indigènes et non indigènes et les pratiques colonisatrices dans les soins de santé. On constate qu’elle habilite les patients à prendre des décisions et qu’elle crée une relation de collaboration entre patients et fournisseurs qui favorise l’efficacité des soins. Dans notre commentaire, nous alléguons qu’une telle approche doit être employée pour la promotion et les programmes d’activité physique, car c’est un autre outil pour aborder les disparités d’état sanitaire qui persistent entre les populations indigènes et non indigènes au Canada. De plus, nous faisons valoir que la sécurisation culturelle peut être une réponse aux critiques qui ont été faites des tentatives d’utiliser la sensibilisation aux réalités culturelles, la pertinence culturelle et les compétences culturelles pour former des fournisseurs d’activité physique et mettre en oeuvre des programmes d’activité physique. Intégrée dans la promotion et les programmes d’activité physique, la sécurisation culturelle n’est pas seulement une pratique éthique: elle a aussi le potentiel d’améliorer significativement la santé des populations indigènes, ce qui pourrait entraîner des améliorations connexes de la qualité de vie, réduire les taux de morbidité et de mortalité, et produire des économies considérables dans le secteur des soins de santé.

ABSTRACTMental health providers have rapidly pivoted their in-person practices to teletherapy and telehealth interventions to address the increased demand for mental health services during the COVID-19 crisis. The change to service delivery has emphasised challenges for mental health service providers, particularly in regions that rely on fly-in and fly-out (FIFO) mental health service providers who are no longer able to travel to their places of work. In this qualitative study, we examined the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of mental health services in Inuit Nunangat. Using a participatory action research methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eight FIFO mental health service providers to understand their experiences and implement strategies to effectively deliver mental health services in a pandemic. We identified three themes through thematic analysis: 1) Service providers identify the challenges in adapting their practices to meet individual and community needs; 2) Service providers recognise the opportunities for enhancements to service delivery; 3) Service providers identify telemental health services as a potentially effective adjunct to in-person sessions. The findings support reconceptualising post-pandemic mental health service delivery to include both face-to-face and telemental health services.

The covers of running magazines are powerful ideological tools, and the individuals featured on covers shape broader public perception of who belongs in running. To examine representation, this study analyzed 285 images of athletes on the covers of three popular North American running magazines over an 11-year period (2009–2019). Through a visual content analysis of cover photos and the use of intersectional feminist theory as a framework, we found disparity in the representation of racialized athletes in comparison to non-racialized athletes, as well as an overrepresentation of female athletes in comparison to their male counterparts. We argue that in order to challenge dominant understandings of who can rightfully and safely participate in running, it is essential to increase the images of racialized people on magazine covers.

Women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy are at risk for high postpartum weight retention and long-term obesity. The National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued guidelines in 1990 on specific ranges for healthy weight gains during pregnancy based on body mass index. The majority of normal-weight (NW) and overweight or obese (OW/OB) women have been shown to exceed the IOM guideline ranges for gestational weight gain. Behavioral intervention has been used effectively to promote weight loss with other populations, but no adequately powered randomized trial has examined the effectiveness of behavioral lifestyle intervention in pregnant NW and OW/OB women to reduce excessive gestational weight gains and postpartum weight retention.