Lithuanian Sports University e-Journals
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S04-1: Background and Foundation of Project BASE: Concepts of Healthy Lifestyle, Behavioural Change, and Active Neighbourhoods
Full text linkUniversity Medical Centre, Human Movement Sciences, School of Sports Studies & University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on people’s mental health and levels of physical activity, especially in older adults who are more vulnerable. Although it has been five years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many older adults still face direct and indirect negative consequences such as mental health issues, feelings of loneliness, and a lower quality of life. Additionally, society and older adults should be better prepared and become more resilient for unforeseen pandemics in the future.
The aim of the BASE project is to bring older adults back to society both physically and socially through a peer-to-peer approach. Sport and Health professionals (BASE mentors) in Spain, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Lithuania were trained to educate volunteering local older adults (BASE Buddies) who supported the older adults targeted by the BASE project.
The content of the BASE programme centred around the topics of healthy lifestyle, behavioural change, and a neighbourhood approach. An evidence-informed process was followed, including a rapid review to find and analyse recent scientific literature on these three topics. Additionally, short interviews were conducted with older adults to better understand their perspectives on these topics. Moreover, the expertise of sports and health professionals was collected to specifically define the topics in the context of BASE and translate them into concrete and actionable themes in the BASE training programmes for the BASE mentors and Buddies.
In the BASE training programmes, healthy lifestyle was defined as being physically active with some attention to nutrition aspects. Furthermore, a broad and holistic definition of health was favoured. Six behavioural change determinants/techniques regarding physical activity were prioritised for BASE: 1) Barrier identification; 2) Providing rewards; 3) Modelling; 4) Self-efficacy; 5) Social support; 6) Enjoyment. Finally, a neighbourhood was not only considered as a geographical area where adults live but also seen as a contributor or agent that stimulates a sense of collectiveness and social interaction. Concrete examples of the translation of these topics in the BASE programme will be illustrated during the presentation.
Acknowledgement: The Erasmus+ BASE project was co-funded by the European Union.
Keywords: Older adults, healthy lifestyle, behavioural change, neighbourhood approach, peer-to-peer trainin
S05-1: The Role of Movement in Early Childhood: Embodied Cognition Models Can Explain Intraindividual Variability in Motor Competence and Executive Functioning as School Readiness Skills
Full text linkPurpose: Early childhood is a time of tremendous growth and development, with the young body and mind changing at an unprecedented rate. It is no wonder that the relationship between motor competence (MC) and executive functioning (EF) during child development is complex, with many child and environmental factors having confounding and moderating effects. The Dutch MELLE follow-up study was grounded on embodied cognition theories suggesting that the mind-body relationship is shaped by the changing physical body features and embedded in the unique experiences within the environment. Therefore, a person-centred approach was applied to explore how functioning in diverse developmental domains jointly affects children’s developmental outcomes.
Methods: In one of the MELLE sub-studies, we examined school readiness of a sample of children (n = 91) with a mean age of 3 years and 4 months (46% girls). We administered a multi-informant test battery of MC, EF, language/emergent literacy skills (LEL), and socioemotional behaviour. After the first six months of school, we collected academic and non-academic school outcomes (EF, MC, socioemotional functioning, classroom behaviour, and creative thinking).
Results: A latent profile analysis revealed four distinct profiles. Motor skills were distinguished between profiles, but not performance-based EF or language scores. School readiness profiles differed in the mean scores on the first grade academic achievement, parent- and teacher-rated EF, MC, parent-rated socioemotional functioning, and prerequisite learning skills.
Conclusions: The patterns of differences were complex, suggesting that profiles could not be ranked from low to high in terms of school outcomes. It could be that children develop in one or only a few school readiness skills at once at the expense of other skills. A major strength of the study was the longitudinal design and inclusion of MC as part of school readiness profiles. Our findings posit motor skills as a distinguishing feature between school readiness profiles, and also that relatively strong motor skills can act as long-term compensation for less developed skills. Therefore, the results support the increasing attention to gross and fine motor skills in school readiness assessment policies. We recommend a person-centred approach and incorporating MC when assessing a child’s school readiness
S08-1: Mapping Established Monitoring Tools for National Physical Activity Policies: Insights and Implications
Full text linkPurpose: As the importance of public policies to promote physical activity (PA) is increasingly recognised, several tools have been developed to monitor and evaluate these policies. Previous research has highlighted that different tools have been developed for different purposes; however, there is limited guidance about the similarities and differences of these tools and their respective roles in the policy context. This study aims to map existing international monitoring tools for national-level PA policies and to explore their impact on the policy process.
Methods: Physical activity policy monitoring tools for the national level were identified based on existing systematic reviews and manual searches of the scientific literature. The tools were analysed in a comparative desk-based mapping exercise, incorporating a political science perspective. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted to gain additional insight into the development and use of these tools.
Results: Eight tools were identified, developed by the World Health Organisation (e.g. Global Action Plan on PA Monitoring Framework), the European Union (e.g. EU Health Enhancing PA Monitoring Framework), and researchers. The mapping of indicators showed that these tools collect different data on policy content (e.g. the promotion of cycling), the policy process (e.g. policy implementation), and the political structure (e.g. platforms for intersectoral collaboration). The expert interviews revealed success stories of the real-world impact of these tools on the policy process as well as current challenges.
Conclusions: This study has identified similarities and differences in existing monitoring tools for PA promotion. While a variety of tools with different objectives and methodologies may have advantages from a scientific perspective, a fragmented landscape could limit the impact of physical activity policy monitoring on the policy process. Lessons can be drawn from the field of political science, where scholars have analysed the use of policy monitoring and evaluation from a more general perspective.
Support/Funding Source: Funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), grant agreement ID 101109929. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them
S11-2: Children’s Voices and Roles in a Whole-System Physical Activity Intervention in Bradford: JU:MP
Full text linkPurpose: This paper presents findings from the process evaluation of JU:MP, a whole-system intervention designed to increase physical activity among children aged 5–14 in Bradford, United Kingdom. The paper explores two interlinked aspects of children’s and families’ involvement: (1) their experiences and perceptions of the intervention and (2) the extent and nature of children’s involvement in JU:MP’s design and delivery.
Method: The first strand draws on qualitative data from longitudinal dyad interviews with families (7 families, 19 interviews at three time points) and focus groups conducted with children (12 focus groups, n = 93) and parents (7 focus groups, n = 17) across two time points. The second strand, which interrogates how children’s voices were embedded in intervention’s design and delivery, draws on four focus groups with children, two focus groups with research and implementation staff, and secondary analysis of over 60 interviews and focus groups with community stakeholders.
Results: The process evaluation from the perspective of families highlights three themes: children’s and families’ awareness of the intervention, children’s enthusiastic engagement with various elements of JU:MP, and impact on behaviour change. Participants demonstrated high acceptance of the intervention elements provided both in school and out-of-school settings. The impact is most evident on children’s motivation, socialisation, and strengthening of community ties and increased opportunities for PA. The analysis of children’s involvement reveals the shifting and evolving nature of child consultation and involvement across programme neighbourhoods, ranging from informal feedback to more structured co-design mechanisms. Although there was strong initial motivation to involve children, systemic barriers, such as time constraints, ethical considerations, and misalignment with strategic priorities, limited their involvement.
Conclusion: Listening to children ensures the acceptability, effectiveness, and sustainability of interventions. Practitioners and researchers who aspire to embed children’s voices in PA interventions would do well to design flexible engagement structures, transparent processes for managing power dynamics, and long-term investment in community relationships.
Support/Funding source: This study was supported by Sport England’s Local Delivery Pilot – Bradford; weblink: https://www.sportengland.org/campaigns-and-our-work/local-delivery. Sport England is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Keywords: Children, physical activity, intervention, process evaluation, consultatio
S15: Understanding Factors Affecting Participation in Adapted Physical Activity: Lifetime Engagement
Full text linkIndividuals with disabilities face substantial challenges in achieving adequate physical fitness and maintaining regular physical activity. These challenges are associated not only with functional limitations but also with environmental, social, and motivational barriers. This symposium integrates findings from studies conducted in Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania addressing the factors affecting participation in physical activity of individuals with various disabilities across different age groups.
The first presentation will present findings from a state-funded project examining the effects of functional limitations on the physical performance of school-aged children with intellectual, visual, hearing, and physical disabilities in Latvia. Comparative results with typically developing peers will be discussed, focusing on the potential for implementing inclusive physical activity programmes. Emphasis will be placed on the use of standardised assessment tools to monitor changes in health and physical fitness over time. The findings underscore the importance of adapting physical education programmes to address diverse functional needs and to promote equitable, inclusive fitness opportunities for all children.
The second study from Finland will present national-level findings on physical activity trends among adolescents with disabilities, based on repeated cross-sectional survey data. The concurrent decline in participation in organised sports has been observed, suggesting a shift towards more unstructured or self-directed physical activity. These patterns highlight the need for adaptive, accessible, and interest-driven physical activity opportunities that account for the heterogeneous needs and preferences of adolescents with disabilities. The findings emphasise the importance of developing inclusive strategies that extend beyond traditional sport settings to promote sustained engagement in physical activity.
The third study from Lithuania will present the key barriers to physical activity among adults with physical disabilities. Notably, gender differences emerged, with women reporting limited support from sports centre staff and challenges in accessing adapted transportation. Additionally, social isolation was associated with reduced physical activity levels, underscoring the critical role of community and interpersonal support in facilitating engagement.
Together this symposium will emphasise the need for comprehensive and inclusive strategies that promote physical activity among individuals with disabilities. Efforts must go beyond addressing functional limitations and also target environmental, institutional, and social barriers
S16-3: An International Consensus on the Most Effective, Impactful, and Feasible Strategies for Physical Activity Implementation in Inpatient Services. A Nominal Group Technique
Full text linkPurpose: Physical activity (PA) offers numerous physical and psychological health benefits for individuals with severe mental illness. Despite its benefits, PA is not routinely integrated into inpatient mental health services. We aimed to present an international consensus and establish priorities for the most effective, impactful, and feasible implementation strategies which can lead to the routine integration of PA services into inpatient mental health services.
Methods: Insights were gathered from 13 international stakeholders with experience of designing, implementing and delivering PA interventions in inpatient mental health settings using the Nominal Groups Technique (NGT). Stakeholders included: academic researchers (n = 6), a representative from the charity sector (n = 1), a clinical psychologist (n = 1), a senior manager in sport and exercise therapy (n = 1), a physical activity and mental health nurse (n = 1), sport and exercise therapists (n = 2), and a clinical exercise physiologist and researcher (n = 1). The NGT process followed five steps: opening statement, silent idea generation, round-robin recording of ideas, group discussion, and voting to rank strategies based on their perceived effectiveness, impact, and feasibility.
Results: Thirty-three consolidated strategies were generated and organised into three broad categories: leadership and policy, staffing, and PA delivery. Within these categories, the strategies ranked most effective and impactful were leadership and organisational top-down commitment, providing PA infrastructure, the capacity to facilitate consistent access to opportunities, building workforce capacity, and creating a positive day-to-day PA culture. The most feasible strategies included protecting PA time within patients’ timetables, collection and utilisation of patient feedback, ongoing services evaluations, the characteristics of the PA provider, co-design of PA programmes with patients, and PA language.
Conclusion: Findings emphasise the need for a multi-level implementation approach. Strategies that rely on organisational resources and leadership were considered as more effective and impactful, whereas those that operated independently of wider systemic and organisational barriers were found to be more feasible. There is a need for increased collaboration across research and practice to test, refine, and discover effective implementation strategies.
Support/Funding Source: No funding supported this work.
Keywords: Implementation, physical activity, mental illness, secure settings, expert consensu
Climate and Sustainability Action Pledge
Full text linkThe HEPA Europe network recognizes that climate change and the loss of biodiversity are urgent threats to the health of humans, animals, and the planet. As a network devoted to improving health and wellbeing through physical activity, we acknowledge our responsibility to minimize our environmental impact and to engage, among other topics, in research on the interconnections between physical activity, climate change, and planetary health and wellbeing. HEPA Europe strives to lead by example in aligning with the 1.5-degree Celsius goal of the 2015 COP Paris Agreement. Action on increasing planetary health and wellbeing is integral to promoting sustainable, healthy lives now and for future generations.
 
A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the #ifyougoigo Programme: A 10-Week Physical Activity Intervention for Women in Wales
Full text linkPurpose: The Torfaen Sports Development Team (Wales, United Kingdom) established the #ifyougoigo programme, which seeks to leverage key facilitators, such as social support and companionship, to increase physical activity (PA) and physical literacy among women. The programme includes group-based exercise sessions, one-to-one personal training, educational workshops, and opportunities to try new sports. This research assessed the broad impact of the intervention and specifically explored the relationship between physical literacy, companionship, and self-efficacy within the Self-Determination Theory framework.
Methods: Women accepted onto the 10-week programme (n = 38, 41.5 ± 10.1 years) had their body mass, arm, thigh, and stomach circumferences, six-minute walking distance (sessional rate of perceived exertion recorded), National Health Service (NHS) resource usage, and device-based PA measured at four time-points. Furthermore, quality of life, perceived capability and wellbeing were measured using the EQ-5D and ICE-CAP surveys. Linear mixed regressions were used to assess the change from the pre- to post-intervention. Finally, participants also completed follow-up interviews (one-month post-programme) and focus groups (six months post-programme), which were analysed thematically.
Results: When controlling for age, deprivation, health condition, level of education, and relationship status, there were significant decreases in body mass (p = 0.009), body mass index (p = 0.001), and self-perceived anxiety and depression (p = 0.021), alongside significant increases in independence (p = 0.05), sense of achievement and progress (p = 0.006), and enjoyment and pleasure (p = 0.012). While perceived availability of love, friendship, and support did not significantly change (p = 0.421), qualitative findings highlighted that the group exercise dynamic served as a vehicle for self-reflection, fostering emotional safety and enjoyment.
Conclusion: The #ifyougoigo programme positively impacted women’s mental and physical health through group-based PA engagement. These findings provide practical insights for the design and implementation of future community-based interventions and can inform funding strategies to scale the programme to reach broader populations.
Support/Funding Source: Torfaen County Borough Council
Applying Health Behaviour Frameworks to Cities’ Climate Strategies Promoting Sustainable Transport and Mobility
Full text linkPurpose: Cities have a crucial role in promoting health and climate neutrality through sustainable transport and mobility. Behavioural frameworks may improve the effectiveness of promotion. This study applied the elements of two well-recognised frameworks – Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and Socioecological model (SEM) – to the Climate City Contracts (CCCs) and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) of the six Finnish EU Mission Cities. The study was a part of a larger investigation aiming to strengthen the transformative capacity of the cities to promote climate neutrality and public health through sustainable transport and mobility.
Methods: The data included the sustainable transport and mobility actions presented in the CCCs and SUMPs of the cities. First, the actions were mapped into the elements of BCW. Second, the same actions were mapped against the multiple levels of SEM. Third, the actions in the SUMPs were analysed.
Results: Altogether, 51 individual actions were discovered in the CCCs. Forty (78%) actions were mappable to BCW. Most actions targeted psychological capabilities and physical opportunities. The actions appeared quite vague for the practical implementation, and their variability seemed quite narrow considering the size and heterogeneity of the population.
Forty-seven (92%) actions in CCCs were mappable against SEM. The actions focused mainly on policy level. Some community level and institutional actions were also discovered. Very few or no actions were planned at the individual or interpersonal level.
The actions in SUMPs were much more detailed and pragmatic than in CCCs. Also, the number of actions was far greater and in most cities the actions were listed under specific developmental themes and/or goals. Due to the differences in presenting the actions and the high number of actions, mapping against BCW or SEM was not applicable.
Conclusion: Behavioural frameworks were scarcely utilised in the CCCs. The SUMPs seemed more promising, but their diversity prevented from making behavioural conclusions about the actions. To summarise, there is much unused potential to include health behaviour frameworks in the promotion of sustainable transport and mobility to achieve better accessibility, feasibility, and effectiveness.
Support/Funding Source: The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finlan