Health and Wellness Impacts of Traditional Physical Activity Experiences on Indigenous Youth: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Traditional physical activities have numerous physiological and psychosocial benefits for Indigenous youth around the world. Little is known about the positive health and wellness impacts of traditional physical activity experiences on Indigenous youths. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the holistic health and wellness impacts of traditional physical activities on Indigenous youth from certain North American and Oceania geographic areas. A systematic search of four electronic databases (PubMed, ERIC, Scopus and Web of Science) was conducted to identify peer-reviewed publications of qualitative research exploring the diverse health experiences of traditional physical activities for Indigenous youth in Canada, the United States of America, New Zealand and Australia. A qualitative synthesis of studies between 2006 and 2018 were included, and findings were synthesized using an integrated Indigenous-ecological model, which broadly captures health and wellness impacts under intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and policy level outcomes using medicine wheel teachings. In total, nine studies were identified via this search. Overall, the literature described numerous emotional, mental and spiritual benefits of traditional physical activity, and youth experiences were affected by familial and communal relationships, and systemic factors. Among Indigenous youth, this research shows the importance of including traditional physical activity in future programs and partnerships with community expertise.

The Relationship between Korean Adolescents’ Sports Participation, Internal Health Locus of Control, and Wellness during COVID-19

“…Ohuruogu [ 44 ] investigated the main approaches to attain optimal wellness and found that sports participation and stamina can not only prevent diseases but also improve quality of life, as individuals who regularly participate in sports live longer and healthier lives. Additionally, Akbar et al [ 45 ] found that sports participation has numerous benefits for emotional, mental, and physical health, stating that, since it is affected by family and community, maintaining healthy family relationships and systematic PA programs are important for adolescent health. In current study, it was also found that the greater the frequency, intensity, and duration of sports participation, the more the positive effects there were on all sub-dimensions of wellness.…”

The Value of Recreational Physical Activity in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Scoping Review of Evidence and Implications for Social Value Measurement

“…Papers focused on Māori communities typically emphasise it is not simply that participation in sport and recreation helps to develop positive feelings of wellbeing, but the whole experience of sport and physical activity is built around Māori culture, cultural identity, spirituality, and the social connections within the Māori community, all of which foster a more holistic sense of health and wellbeing [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Consequently, there are many links between the findings in this section and those in the later section on the outcome area of social and community development.…”

Indigenous Land-Based Approaches to Well-Being: The Amisk (Beaver) Harvesting Program in Subarctic Ontario, Canada

“…Participants frequently described the land as medicine and healing. Another recent systematic review by Akbar, et al [ 77 ] examining Indigenous youth in Canada, USA, New Zealand, and Australia, reported that taking part in traditional physical activities were affected by familial and communal relationships and described numerous emotional and spiritual benefits. Similar results have been noted in other studies assessing the impacts of land-based activities on diabetes [ 78 , 79 , 80 ], cancer [ 80 ], cardiovascular health [ 81 , 82 ], wellness [ 83 , 84 ], and well-being [ 85 ].…”