<i>‘</i>There were other guys in the same boat as myself’: the role of homosocial environments in sustaining men’s engagement in health interventions

Lozano-Sufrategui, Lorena; Pringle, Andy; McKenna, Jim; Carless, David

doi:10.1080/2159676x.2018.1527781

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 44 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The importance of shared characteristics (e.g., body type or goals) for driving group identification processes have been previously acknowledged in a similar men-only, community-based weight loss management intervention (Lozano-Sufrategui, Pringle, McKenna, & Carless, 2019). According to Lozano-Sufrategui and colleagues, participants in this program described perceptions of being in a 'shared safe place', encompassed by feelings that everybody in the program was 'in the same boat'.…”

Section: Group Identification Processesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men

Budden

Dimmock

Smith

et al. 2020

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In Western countries, such as Australia and the UK, a significantly greater proportion of men (relative to women) are overweight and obese, yet relatively few weight loss interventions have been developed that sufficiently target men. This lack of male-focused programming may be in part because 'traditional' weight loss programs are unappealing for what is considered a 'hard-to-reach' population. One program that appears to have such appeal for men is the MAN v FAT Football (MVFF) program, based out of the United Kingdom, which is designed for men with a body mass index of (or greater than) 27.5. MVFF encourages men's participation in a community-based weight loss program that incentivizes weight loss through participation in a football league, and since 2016 MVFF has supported the weight loss efforts of several thousand men. Using MVFF as an exemplar, our aim was to derive insight into how men experience a male-only competitive, sport-based weight loss program. We recruited twenty-seven players (Mage ¼ 41.13, SD ¼ 9.93), and ten coaches (Mage ¼ 31.8, SD ¼ 11.55) from program locations throughout the United Kingdom. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, we identified several appraisal aspects of the program that players and coaches considered important, including the appeal of sport, competition on a level playing field, being part of a team, camaraderie, accountability, men sharing issues with other men, gender-sensitized environment, likeminded and similar men, and perceptions that traditional weight loss programs are tailored towards women. Player experiences (i.e., competence and enjoyment) and functional supports in the program (e.g., player handbook, weight loss coach) were reported to drive outcomes of effective weight loss and program retention. Interventions aiming to target men may be more successful working with rather than against formulations of identity such as masculinities, and this can be achieved by tailoring program content (e.g., messaging), settings (e.g., among men sharing similar characteristics such as body-type or goals), and mode of delivery (e.g., through organized sports, and leveraging competition to drive healthy behaviours).

show abstract

Section: Group Identification Processesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men

Budden

Dimmock

Smith

et al. 2020

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Following Kokko (2016, p.82), a healthpromoting sports club is "a setting (which does not need to have physical boundaries) with sustained health promotion practices at the organization, club, and coach levels of the system". Recent evidence from northern Europe has shown that sports settings can attract groups who remain unreached in traditional healthcare (Lewis, Reeves and Roberts, 2016;Lozano-Sufrategui et al, 2018). For example, Trivedy et al (2017) suggested that cricket stadia are a feasible setting for providing health interventions for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Professional football clubs’ involvement in health promotion in Spain: an audit of current practices

Lozano-Sufrategui

Pringle

Zwolinsky

et al. 2019

Health Promotion International

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The implementation of effective community-based health interventions within Spanish football clubs has the potential to positively influence the public health agenda and enable the healthcare system in Spain to be more successful and sustainable. This paper aims to explore the involvement of Spanish football clubs in health promotion activities, their potential for future involvement and what that would require. A mixed methods explanatory sequential design, with a purposive sample of La Liga clubs. Data collection included online questionnaires and phone interviews. Quantitative methods enabled us to describe the number and types of programmes the clubs are currently involved in. Qualitative data was useful to further unpick the processes followed by the clubs in planning and developing health promotion programmes, while identifying any determinants to change. Seventeen clubs completed questionnaires and 11 participated in interviews. Clubs generally support inclusive programmes that target disadvantaged groups. Health-related programmes focus on healthy eating, physical activity and blood donation. Thematic analysis of interviews with 11 representatives of La Liga clubs resulted in three-key themes. These related to: (i) Diversity of programmes; (ii) (Lack of) evidence-based approaches to intervention design and evaluation and (iii) Contrasting views about a club’s role in health promotion interventions. Spanish football clubs have potential to reach into communities that are currently underserved. However, there is limited infrastructure and understanding within the clubs to do this. Nevertheless, there is huge opportunity for organizations with public health responsibility in Spain to implement translational approaches within football-based settings.

show abstract

“…Focus groups and interviews have been used previously to investigate participant experiences of attending football-led health improvement interventions reflecting both the implementation component of RE-AIM [ 37 ] and the key characteristics such as the Premier League Men’s health Evaluation and the Fit Red’s men’s health evaluation [ 32 , 52 ]. They can be an inclusive, efficient, and convenient method to capture information on participant experiences of engaging with interventions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior to inviting participants to engage in the focus group, the researchers attended a series of social events such as the Christmas bowling event and planned CARE activities to build up rapport with potential volunteers. This approach has been adopted elsewhere in research studies investigating the impact of football-led health improvement programs [ 32 , 52 ]. This meant that on the day of the focus groups, participants recognised the researchers and that a previous connection had already been established [ 52 ] and thus contributed to building capacity for research recommended in the literature [ 48 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach has been adopted elsewhere in research studies investigating the impact of football-led health improvement programs [ 32 , 52 ]. This meant that on the day of the focus groups, participants recognised the researchers and that a previous connection had already been established [ 52 ] and thus contributed to building capacity for research recommended in the literature [ 48 ]. Further, previous relationships between participants helped facilitate participant engagement and interaction in the focus groups.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of CARE (Cancer and Rehabilitation Exercise): A Physical Activity and Health Intervention, Delivered in a Community Football Trust

Rutherford

Zwolinsky²,

Kime

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With increasing cancer survivorship has come an increased necessity to support people living with cancer (PLWC) to have a good quality of life including being physically active. Using mixed methods, the current study aimed to use the RE-AIM evaluation framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) to determine how the football community trust delivered CARE (Cancer and Rehabilitation Exercise) intervention was able to increase participants’ physical activity in order to improve their quality of life and regain physiological and psychological function. Quantitative outcome data were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months using the Cancer Physical Activity Standard Evaluation Framework questionnaire. Semi-structured focus groups (n = 5) captured participants’ (n = 40) lived experience of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of CARE. Questionnaire data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVAs and qualitative data were thematically analysed. Following diagnosis, CARE was successful in providing participants with a unique and accessible opportunity to become or restart physically activity, by providing a local, socially supportive, and inclusive environment. This resulted in significant increases in physical activity (F(1.58, 23) = 5.98, p = 0.009), quality of life (QoL) (F(2,36) = 13.12, p = 0.000) and significant reductions in fatigue (F(1.57,31) = 11.19, p = 0.000) over 6 months. Participants also reported becoming more active, recovering physical function, regaining independence, and enhanced psychological well-being as a result of attending CARE. Key design features of CARE were also identified across RE-AIM. CARE, a football community trust delivered physical activity intervention was successful in significantly improving participants’ QoL and in regaining the physical and psychological functioning of people living with cancer. Results suggest that maintaining engagement in CARE for 6 months and beyond can support people to maintain these changes. Engaging in robust evaluations such as this can help organizations to successfully secure future funding for their programs.

show abstract

‘There were other guys in the same boat as myself’: the role of homosocial environments in sustaining men’s engagement in health interventions

Cited by 11 publications

References 44 publications

Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men

Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men

Professional football clubs’ involvement in health promotion in Spain: an audit of current practices

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of CARE (Cancer and Rehabilitation Exercise): A Physical Activity and Health Intervention, Delivered in a Community Football Trust

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About