S2.18 - Capabilities for an active lifestyle – Co-producing knowledge with different population groups in communities and universities

Tracks
Track 4
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
14:10 - 15:25

Details

* Session times are shown in Universal Time Coordinated (UTC). You will need to convert the session time to your local time. You can use this website to do that: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html * Each session is scheduled for 75 minutes. Purpose Despite various initiatives for promoting physical activity at population level, developing interventions that lead to sustainable behaviour change and reach people with special needs remains a challenge. The symposium will show how change can be achieved by (a) using knowledge co-production (Rütten et al. 2017) and (b) conceptualizing outcomes by using capability theory (Frahsa et al. 2020). This combined approach allows for an active involvement of population groups, practitioners, policymakers and researchers to co-produce sustainable active lifestyles, and for acknowledging the individual, social and environmental conversion factors that enable individuals to become physically active. Rationale Knowledge co-production and capabilities are well-known concepts in health promotion but are still not standard approaches in physical activity promotion. While our project examples strongly suggest that the combination is promising, it must be discussed when and why these approaches may lead to successful outcomes. Objectives · Highlight challenges of promoting physical activity for different population groups and settings · Illustrate why a combination of co-production approaches and the capabilities concept is well-suited to address these issues and measure intervention success · Discuss if and how the proposed approach is applicable to other settings, populations, and health behaviours Summary The chairs will introduce underlying concepts in the context of physical activity promotion. The three presentations will focus on vulnerable population groups in the community setting (men 50 plus, women in difficult life situations) and on students in the university setting. The discussant will link presentation results back to the theoretical framework and propose conclusions, which will subsequently be discussed with symposium participants. Format · Tittlbach & Gelius: Introduction (9 mins) · Strobl et al.: Men 50 plus, community setting (ACTION for men) (12 mins) · Till et al.: Women in difficult life situations (BIG) (12 mins) · Helten et al: Students, university setting (Smart Moving) (12 mins) · Jansen: Summary, conclusions, discussion with symposium participants (15 mins) Interaction Discussion will be facilitated using both the chat function (for questions) and electronic tools such as quick polls (e.g. on familiarity with/suitability of approaches used). References Frahsa, A., Abel, T., Gelius, P & Rütten, A. (2020). The capability approach as a bridging framework across health promotion settings: theoretical and empirical consideration. Health Promotion International, 10.1093/heapro/daaa076 Rütten, A., Frahsa, A., Abel, T., Bergmann, M., de Leeuw, E., Hunter, D. et al. (2017). Co-producing active lifestyles as whole-system-approach: theory, intervention and knowledge-to-action implications. Health Promotion International, 34(1), 47-59. 10.1093/heapro/dax053

Speaker

Attendee2149
University of Bayreuth

Community Capacity Building for Improving Capabilities for Physical Activity in Men 50 plus

Abstract

Purpose: The participation of men aged 50 and older (50 plus) in programs to promote health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) is low. Due to socially constructed roles and expectations, men 50 plus are more likely to deny engagement in those programs, to prove adherence to the construct of masculine “toughness” or strength. Improving social and environmental conversion factors by working with rather than against sociocultural influences on behaviour is a promising way to increase participation rates of men in health promotion programs. However, there is a lack of capacity in many communities to conceptualize and implement corresponding programs. For that reason, ACTION for men (A4M) aims to develop capacities for gender-sensitized HEPA promotion addressing men 50 plus by a participatory approach in two rural communities in Bavaria, Germany.



Methods: We implemented two participatory stakeholder groups, one per community. These groups were motivated to develop and implement gender-sensitized measures for HEPA promotion for men 50 plus. For measuring capacity building processes, a semi-standardized monitoring protocol was used to document all group meetings (23 protocols). Additionally, we conducted 13 semi-standardized interviews with group participants and drop-outs to capture their perspectives on capacity building. All documents were analysed using thematic analysis along relevant dimensions of capacity building suggested in literature (e.g., problem solving, resource mobilization, leadership).


Results: We successfully established stakeholder groups that conceptualized and implemented a range of local measures meant to increase HEPA among men 50 plus (e.g. new gender-sensitized HEPA programs with a low-threshold access). Capacity building was successful to a certain degree (e.g., regarding participation, problem assessment, and resource mobilization), but stalled after first meetings. Capacity building processes differed between the two communities in terms of leadership, sustainability and critical awareness.


Conclusions: A successful capacity building approach can result in improved social and environmental conversion factors regarding physical activity for men 50 plus. Success of the approach mainly depends on the composition of stakeholder groups and inherent power relations. The effect of the implemented measures on individual conversion factors and achieved functionings within the framework of the capability approach needs further investigation.



 

Attendee3036
Friedrich-Alexander University

Improving capabilities within a community setting to promote physical activity among women in difficult life situations

Abstract

Purpose: Only 20% of women in Germany reach recommended levels of physical activity (PA). Levels decline with socio-economic status due to various barriers, including high participation fees or culturally insensitive offerings. The BIG project (“movement as investment in health”) aims at counteracting these health inequalities by using a community-based participatory approach to promote PA among women in difficult life situations. It further aims at increasing capabilities for PA and empowering women to control their own health, while also improving health promoting structures in the setting.



Methods: Using the participatory method of cooperative planning, BIG involves the women addressed, local decision makers, practice partners and researchers in a transdisciplinary exchange. In a series of sessions, a planning group jointly develops and implements PA offers tailored to the women’s needs and interests. A variety of methods (e.g. interviews, process evaluations, questionnaires, etc.) has been employed to evaluate BIG, e.g. collecting data on participation during planning session, outcomes, and the scale-up of BIG across Germany.


Results: Since 2005, a total of 17 communities have implemented BIG. The average lifespan of project implementation is 4 years. Up to now, 7 communities have succeeded in sustainably implementing the project, with over 800 women participating regularly in PA offers. Analysis shows a development of structural conversion factors within different communities: Low-threshold PA offers, strengthened social-networks between women, improved local policy networks ensuring sustainability, and a local project coordination managing BIG activities on site. Regarding individual conversion factors, women participating in planning sessions increased their self-efficacy and knowledge of organisational/political processes, and were empowered to voice their interests. For women partaking in PA offers, positive effects on physical and mental well-being were found. Further, planning sessions led to increased agency of all planning group participants.


Conclusions: BIG demonstrates that participatory and transdisciplinary research interventions can have a positive impact on participants’ capabilities and community PA structures. The long-term effects of the intervention at both the structural and individual level is currently examined in a follow-up project (NU-BIG). The results will provide insights on the sustainability of BIG’s impact on women´s capabilities for PA.



 

Attendee2163
University of Bayreuth

Addressing physical activity and sedentary behavior among students in the university setting

Abstract

Purpose: Even though young adults are relatively active in comparison with other population groups, only about 50% reach the national recommendation of 150 min physical activity (PA) per week. Additionally, sedentary behavior (SB) among students is high, especially during their time spent on campus. SB on campus seems to be a social norm, which is ingrained in most typical behavioral patterns of these institutions: during lectures, in the library, often during breaks and lunch time. Improving social and environmental conversion factors is a promising way to increase PA and decrease SB of students on campus. However, there is a lack of structural measures in most universities breaking the social norm and offering possibilities to interrupt sitting-time and integrate PA. Therefore, Smart Moving aims to develop capacities for the student-oriented addressing of PA and SB by using a participatory approach in one university setting in Bavaria, Germany.



Methods: We carried out an online student ideas competition and implemented a participatory stakeholder group. The group members were motivated to develop and implement student-oriented measures for addressing PA and SB of students on campus. For measuring capacity building processes, a semi-standardized monitoring protocol was used to document all group meetings (8 protocols) and we conducted 4 semi-standardized interviews with group participants to capture their perspectives. All documents were analysed using thematic analysis along relevant dimensions of capacity building (e.g., problem solving, resource mobilization, leadership).


Results: We successfully carried out the student ideas competition and established a stakeholder group that conceptualized and implemented a range of measures meant to increase PA and decrease SB among students (e.g. active break in lectures, movement-enhancing library workplaces, nudged walking paths on campus). The effectiveness and acceptance of the measures was different. Capacity building was successful to a certain degree (e.g. regarding problem assessment and resource mobilization).


Conclusions: An effective capacity building approach can result in improved social and environmental conversion factors regarding PA and SB for students on campus. The success mainly depends on the composition of stakeholder groups. The effect of the implemented measures on achieved functioning needs further investigation.


Chair

Attendee1430
Research Associate
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Discussant

Attendee2144
Professor
Maastricht University

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