Search

Objective: To examine the presence of body image concerns, drive for muscularity, and disordered eating behaviors in collegiate student-athletes. Participants: One hundred and one NCAA Division I student-athletes participated in Phase I; 15 of these also participated in Phase II. Methods: This study employed a mixed method, sequential explanatory design. Participants first completed survey measures assessing body image concern, drive for muscularity, and eating behaviors. These results influenced open-ended, semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analyzed. Results: Body image and disordered eating behaviors were of greater concern than drive for muscularity. Student-athletes reported engaging in eating behaviors as opposed to not eating, yet these eating behaviors trended toward disordered behaviors such as obsessive "healthy eating" or orthorexia. Conclusions: This study took a novel methodological approach to examining student-athlete body image and eating behaviors. Results emphasize the need for further support and education for student-athletes around body image and eating behaviors.

Online courses have become common in leisure studies and recreation education university programs, yet little is known about online instruction in this field, especially in courses about human diversity. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is (1) to discuss literature relevant to online courses about human diversity broadly, and in a leisure studies and recreation education context specifically, and (2) to discuss key findings from implementation of an online course about leisure behavior and human diversity. We take a key interest in the effectiveness of community-engaged learning as a teaching and learning tool. Using a case study approach, we systematically evaluated two courses to inform our course improvement. Students reported what they learned, elements of the course that contributed to their learning, and changes that would enhance their learning. We discuss key course components, our revisions, and provide suggestions for creating high-quality online courses about leisure behavior and human diversity.

An ongoing debate points to a possible gap between the published research about and the delivery of leisure services. For example, two of the major research journals in the field of leisure studies, "Journal of Leisure Research" ("JLR") and "Journal of Parks and Recreation Administration" ("JPRA"), are intended for different audiences, yet researchers are far more likely than practitioners to read both journals. Little empirical research has been conducted to explain the possible reasons for these readership disparities. This exploration utilized rhetorical analysis techniques to examine three matched article sets to determine if the science was accommodated for the distinct intended audiences of the two journals. The findings suggested that the ways in which the research was accommodated for the distinct intended audiences was inconsistent. Significance of the findings and recommendations for future accommodation of science in leisure studies are discussed.

Promotion with tenure is often the ultimate goal for PhD students who choose to pursue a career in higher education. Extensive mentorship is provided for tenure-track faculty to smooth the path toward promotion with tenure, but most faculty members achieve this goal relatively early in their careers, leaving years if not decades ahead in a tenured position. Despite its advantages, tenured faculty report varying levels of satisfaction. For some, the post-tenure experience lives up to the expectations of freedom and achievement. For others, career goals post-tenure are elusive, and they experience a downturn in drive and motivation. Research indicates that inequities in responsibility and pay make women faculty more susceptible to post-tenure dissatisfaction than male faculty,, and increased support and mentorship are among the most cited needs by post-tenure faculty. In this article, we present the details of the tenure contract that exists between faculty and universities and the unique pathways of three women faculty with the aim of presenting the diverse directions faculty can take in navigating a career in higher education.

The presence of women in male-dominated settings, such as outdoor adventure recreation, is received with suspicion, whereby they must demonstrate competence before they are accepted and treated as being equal to men. This multiple case study examined four female professional outdoor athletes to explore experiences of gender discrimination in their professional interactions and their response to those experiences. The athletes experienced disparate treatment and each articulated distinct and clear examples of overt discrimination. In response to this discrimination, the athletes downplayed their experiences and indicated they could or should have managed these situations better and described how they took it upon themselves to adapt to the "reality" of being a woman in the professional ranks of outdoor recreation. While the athletes' responses conform to broad cultural expectations, they warrant additional investigation and exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social stereotypes such as race, class, religion, physical characteristics, and gender affect participation in sport and physical activities. However, the degree to which individuals are sensitive to the stigmas that [...]

Investigations of physical self-concept among children have repeatedly shown that boys have higher physical self-concept than girls. Given the masculine nature of physical activity and sport, this result seems reasonable. However, previous studies have not assessed the social phenomenon of gender-typed sports. It stands to reason that because of social stereotyping, boys and girls may experience different physical self-concept in traditionally masculine (boys') sports or traditionally feminine (girls') sports. Furthermore, boys and girls who participate in cross-gender typed sports (e.g., boys in traditionally girls" sports and girls in traditionally boys' sports) may yield different results regarding physical self-concept. Toward that end, this study examined the physical self-concept of middle-school-aged boys and girls who participated in different gender stereotyped sports. Results indicated that boys and girls experienced different degrees of physical self-concept depending on the type of sport in which they participated. Boys and girls who participated in gender-typed and cross-gendered sports experienced higher physical self-concept than those who participated only in gender-typed sports. Stereotype theory is used as a framework for explaining the findings and making suggestions for future research., Physical activity participation and perceived competence in physical activity has been credited for a number of positive developmental outcomes such as leadership, altruism, and independence (Larson, 2000). Furthermore, self-concept has [...]

The COVID-19 pandemic may have altered visitation patterns to parks, with potential effects on human health. Little is known about park use early in the pandemic, how park availability influenced use, and whether park visits accelerated COVID-19 spread. Using weekly cell phone location data for 620 U.S. counties, we show park visits decreased by an average 26% between March 15 and May 9, 2020. Net of weekly trends, park visits were 2.2% lower when stay-at-home orders were in effect, yet increased by 8.4% with school closures and 4.4% with business closures. Park visits decreased less during the pandemic in counties where park availability was high. Levels of park visits were not associated with COVID-19 growth rate or incidence in the following weeks. Thus, parks served as recreation and leisure outlets when schools and businesses closed, especially where parks were more available, with no evidence of park use increasing COVID-19 spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the potential roles of implicit bias and implicit association testing (IAT) in the practice of reflexivity. In the paper, eight leisure scholars reflected on their explicit and implicit prejudice and privilege and its influence on their efforts to conduct critical leisure research. Data were collected from these scholars in three stages. First, participant-researchers engaged in a 'conscious,' written, personal reflexive exercise considering their biases and how these biases influenced their research. Second, participants completed four IATs – a parallel 'unconscious' reflexive exercise. Third, participants individually and collectively reflected on results of the IATs in relation to their conscious responses. The authors report results from thematic analyses of these reflections; consider practical opportunities, challenges, and cautions associated with using implicit measures to denote one's positionality; and initiate a theory driven discussion of broader uses of implicit measures in critical leisure research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study examines whether associations between activity-related support and adolescents' physical activity differ for adolescents at high versus low risk of physical inactivity. Methods: Participants included 202 middle-school-aged girls (N = 92) and boys (N = 110). Physical activity was assessed using three self-report questionnaires. Activity-related support from mothers, fathers, siblings, and peers was assessed using the Activity Support Scale. Perceived sport competence was assessed using the Physical Activity Self Description Questionnaire. Participants' height and weight were measured and used to calculate their age- and sex-adjusted Body Mass Index percentile. Participants were classified as being at high risk for physical inactivity if they fulfilled two of the following three criteria: (1) overweight; (2) female; or (3) having low perceived sport competence. Results: Activity-related support from all sources was associated with higher levels of physical activity among adolescents. A stronger association between activity support and physical activity was found for adolescents at high risk for physical inactivity in comparison to adolescents at low risk. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that the activity-related support from family and friends may be an effective tool in promoting physical activity among youth at risk of physical inactivity.

Historically, the relationship between humans and food is complex. The necessity of food for life has resulted in food being important in structuring life and identity. The increasing stronghold of the agrofood complex (e.g. Big Food) in the production and engineering of food is taking a toll on socio-ecological systems. Using Harro's (2018a. "The Cycle of Socialisation." In Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, edited by A. Adams, W. J. Blumenfeld, C. Casteneda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, and X. Zuniga, 45–52. New York: Routledge) Cycle of Socialization as a framework, we examine how humans have been socialized to value and depend on engineered foods to the detriment of human and environmental health and propose the Cycle of Food Socialization. Dominant socializing forces of contemporary mass food production, eating habits, and perceptions of food keep us trapped in a cycle of unhealthy behaviours that make food more of an enemy than friend. We further propose that growing interest in locally farmed and naturally produced food as a leisure pursuit is uniquely positioned as a pathway to liberation from this cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity is one of the greatest public health concerns worldwide. Low-income children from diverse backgrounds in rural areas are most at risk, but many treatment programs are implemented in urban health facilities outside the communities where participants live. To date, many programs report high attrition, and show little success. This may be due to few programs utilizing personalized services that incorporate community based programming. OBJECTIVES New Impact, a childhood obesity treatment program in South Carolina, broke from standard treatment models by establishing partnerships with rural YMCAs to provide accessible, personalized programs. This study focused on what components of the YMCA partnership contributed to or constrained participants' engagement in health behaviors. METHODS Data were collected via one-on-one, semi-structured phone interviews with child participants of the program, and, in some instances, their parents. Data were coded by individual members of the research team, and cross-checked for continuity in the findings. RESULTS Effective elements of the program included the variety and one-on-one attention that programs at the YMCA provided. Ineffective elements included buy-in from all family members, and feeling intimidated by the size of the YMCA and other members. DISCUSSION Identifying effective childhood obesity treatment and prevention strategies is becoming an imperative. Lack of success with standard models of treatment indicate that innovative approaches are necessary. The New Impact program and the data presented here identifying effective and ineffective elements are preliminary to establishing effective collaborations with local and community partners as a viable direction to address the growing problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an overview of the articles appearing in The Journal of Positive Psychology's special issue on Leisure as well as a summary of the overlap between positive psychology and leisure studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their inception in the early- to mid-2000s, social media sites (SMS) have burgeoned into a popular leisure pursuit with millions of users worldwide. Defined as Internet-based software programs that facilitate communication among individuals, members use them to exchange information, develop friendships, and find social support. Despite their rapid growth as a leisure time activity, there is a dearth of research exploring use of SMS. Using social identity theory as a framework, this study uses quantitative and qualitative data to explore how people who identified as “Penn Staters” used SMS to connect with others and exchange information during and in the wake of the breaking news of the Sandusky Scandal (SS). As predicted, highly identified Penn Staters used SMS to cope with news of the SS. However, interesting variations in usage based on demographic information are presented and discussed, providing greater insight into this increasingly popular leisure trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social norms surrounding gender impact the types of leisure pursuits in which females tend to participate (Freysinger, Shaw, Henderson, & Bialeschki, 2013). Single-sex classes have been utilized and examined in K-12 education settings (Gurian, Stevens, & Daniels, 2009), but have largely been ignored in relation to leisure education. Leisure education courses are aimed at building a foundation for lifelong leisure and provide an environment that may be conducive to helping women resist social gender expectations (Datillo, 2008). Research has yet to explore how women's participation in single-sex leisure education courses may influence their participation in leisure activities dominated by men such as hunting. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of college students participating in an all-women leisure education hunting course. Researchers conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 32 female students at a mid-sized university in the southeast over a two-year period. Results indicate that an all-women leisure education course may act as a facilitator to leisure participation by allowing participants to avoid embarrassment, providing a less competitive and intimidating environment for participation and by providing opportunities for participant bonding. In addition, single-sex leisure education environments may affect females' perceptions of leisure activities dominated by men. These findings are shaped by leisure education goals including self-confidence, social interaction, and leisure awareness. The findings of this study provide a number of implications for professional practice. First, as a way to help participants avoid feeling "stupid" as they learn new skills, it is important for practitioners to consider modifications to programming formats for leisure education including single-sex classes. In addition, beyond offering single-sex options, agencies may need to consider the instructors' sex and experiences with varying populations to ensure participants will feel as comfortable as possible. Next, professionals should focus on programmatic offerings in which participation rates among women are low to better understand factors that may be impacting their involvement. This evaluation should include programs that may be seen as the "norm" in the specific region or culture the agency serves, such as a hunting course in the south. Doing so may help to diversify the participant base for leisure programs dominated by men. Finally, the results of this study indicate that single-sex offerings may be most beneficial in beginner level courses, especially when the goals of leisure education models are taken into consideration. Thus, practitioners should focus efforts at providing single sex opportunities for entry-level programs to heighten first-time participation by women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]