‘It is fun, fitness and football really’: a process evaluation of a football-based health intervention for men

Abstract

Concerns about gender inequalities in longevity, particularly premature male mortality, have prompted a range of innovative approaches to health promotion work with men dating back to the 1980s. In developing such work, sport, and football in particular, has emerged as a gendered cultural field that has utility for engaging men in health initiatives. Evaluations of such work, whilst few in number, have shown that health initiatives using football settings, football based interventions, or even football club branding, can have positive impact on various health measures in the short and the longer term. However, little work to date has looked at the underlying mechanisms that generate success in such projects. This paper presents secondary analysis of data collected during the evaluation of the Premier League Health (PLH) programme specifically focusing on these underlying mechanisms and how/where gender (masculinities) appears in these processes. We draw on interview data with sixteen staff who had been involved in the delivery of the PLH initiative and fifty-eight men who took part. Thematic analysis highlighted two overarching (and underpinning) themes: 'Trust', what processes it was key to and how it was developed and sustained; 'Change', including what it was facilitated by and what impact it had. The paper adds to our understanding of how active listening, flexibility and sustained engagement are key to sports based projects generating success. Furthermore, it demonstrates how the physicality and sociability of involvement, rather than any direct focus on 'health' was important in acting as a spring-board for facilitating reflection and aiding lifestyle changes for the men in line with PLH programme desired outcomes.

Engaging Men in Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Programs

“…Specifically, competition-based physical activity was mentioned by men in the Griffith et al (2014) and Hooker et al (2011) studies as a preferred component of a healthy lifestyle intervention. Robertson et al (2013) reported that competition could improve the program experience but could also become a negative influence on experiences if the level of competition became too high.…”

Men and Gender Equality

“…In broader society, initiatives are proving to be effective in reaching out to men, often through approaches that could be classed as novel. (Zwolinsky et al 2012;Robertson et al 2013;Wilson and Cordier 2013) To achieve this change a more comprehensive understanding of the role gender plays in health has to be achieved and this knowledge has to be shared not just with academics but also across society, as it is the broader public that needs to live with the resulting policy changes. (Hawkes and Buse 2013)…”

Doing and rethinking. Building resilience with men

“…The pilot programme helped men to work through these life-course disruptions and to get a fresh handle on their experiences through developing positive coping strategies, and through peer support in the context of interesting and fun activities (Robertson et al 2013). Particularly, the coping strategies course helped men to reframe their thoughts, to become reflexive about their situation and their actual and potential identities.…”