Promoting physical activity among university students: a systematic review of controlled trials

Objective: University study is often accompanied by a decline in physical activity (PA) levels but can offer the opportunity to promote a lifelong active lifestyle. This review aims to summarize controlled trials of interventions promoting PA among uni- versity students, describing the quality of the evidence, effective strategies, and deficiencies in the interventions employed, to provide directions for future research and for practical implementations. Data Source: PubMed, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, Education Source, and SPORTDiscus. Study Inclusion Criteria: Randomized or nonrandomized controlled trial, describing an intervention to promote PA in uni- versity students, where PA was one of the outcomes and results were published in English. Data Extraction: Country, study design, participants\u2019 inclusion criteria, participation rate and characteristics, randomization, blinding, theoretical framework, intervention characteristics, participant retention rate and withdrawal reasons, measures employed, data analysis, PA results, and findings regarding PA correlates. Data Synthesis: Data were synthetized considering study characteristics, strategies used, and outcomes. Results: Two thousand five hundred eighty-five articles were identified. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies reported an increase in PA levels. Conclusion: Physical Activity promotion interventions should address a range of behavioral determinants. Personalized approaches and PA sessions should be considered in future studies. The high risk of bias of many studies (mainly due to attrition and poor reporting) and missing information about intervention components limit the strength of conclusions about the most effective strategies and the evidence of effectiveness, highlighting the need for further high-quality studies

Usability evaluation of the international FitBack web portal for monitoring youth fitness

Open access funding provided by Libera Università di Bolzano within the CRUI-CARE Agreement. This research was co-funded by the Erasmus + Sport Programme of the European Union within the project FitBack No. 613010-EPP-1-2019-1-SI-SPO-SCP and the Slovenian Research Agency within the Research programme Bio-psycho-social context of kinesiology No. P5-0142.Background FitBack is an international network established to support the creation of physical fitness monitoring and surveillance systems for children and adolescents across Europe. Aims As a part of the greater scope of the FitBack European project, the FitBack web portal was designed and tailored for various target groups, such as teachers, health professionals, policy makers, parents, and youths, with the aim to promote their physical and health literacy. Methods The FitBack web portal is a free and multilingual online resource, and two of its webpages were evaluated: “Make interactive report” was evaluated by 78 secondary school students and 27 physical education teachers, and “10 steps to design a physical fitness monitoring system” by 14 physical activity promotion policy makers. Validated scales and open-ended questions were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative responses. Results ‘Good’-to-‘excellent’ scores emerged for user experience (5.43–6.36 out of 7) and webpage usability (3.70–4.27 out of 5). Qualitative feedback highlighted positive comments and cues on how to improve website features. Conclusions Results indicate that the current FitBack web portal is a clear and user-friendly mobile health tool, which includes relevant information on how to use and implement youth physical fitness monitoring and surveillance systems.Libera Università di Bolzano CRUI-CARE AgreementErasmus + Sport Programme of the European Union FitBack 613010-EPP-1-2019-1-SI-SPO-SCPSlovenian Research Agency Research programme Bio-psycho-social context of kinesiology P5-014

Valutare il piacere nelle attività motorie: il PACES-It

Il piacere è una delle principali ragioni per cui gli individui si impegnano nelle attività motorie. Piacere e motivazione intrinsecasono strettamente correlati: esperienze piacevoli durante l’attività motoria accrescono la motivazione intrinseca, sviluppano attitudinipositive e promuovono l’aderenza a lungo termine alla pratica. Nonostante questo, è stato condotto solo un numero limitato di ricerche per sviluppare specifici strumenti di valutazione, una importante eccezione è rappresentata dalla Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) proposta da Kendzierski e De Carlo nel 1991 e rivista da Motl et al. nel 2001. Le finalità di questo lavoro sono discutere il ruolo del divertimento e del piacere nelle attività motorie e sportive e presentare la struttura della versione Italiana della Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES-It, Carraro, Young e Robazza, 2008). Vengono inoltre date alcune esemplificazioni di impiego dello strumento in diversi contesti

Interventions and studies

En pocos decenios se ha pasado de una práctica elitista o cerrada, a una de masa, las inversiones públicas y privadas en estructura, instalaciones y equipos, están considerablemente aumentadas, el número de ocupados en el sector deportivo está en crecimiento constante, las noticias deportivas ocupan establemente en los medios fracciones de espacio y de tiempo que están solo raramente reservados a otras discusiones, los campeones del deporte son, a la par de los divos del espectáculo, personajes conocidos y celebridades y la política desde hace tiempo ha aprendido a usar el deporte (a articular los éxitos deportivos) como un potente instrumento de consenso. El deporte practicado y además frecuentemente defendido, hablado, se ha vuelto el principal lugar del tiempo libre y uno de los más importantes centros de agregación social, tanto en los países ricos, como en las áreas más pobres del planeta. Diferentes indicadores subrayan estas tendencias: en los últimos años se ha asistido a una rápida evolución de la tecnología (no siempre lícita) aplicada al deporte, a un continuo aumento de las performances competitivas en todas las disciplinas deportivas, a un progresivo crecimiento de la investigación en el campo de la actividad física.Departamento de Educación Físic

Barriers and facilitators of physical activity for individuals with depression: a systematic review within the socio-ecological model framework

Introduction: Mental health disorders affect approximately one in every eight individuals globally, with many facing limited access to care, social exclusion, and stigma. Depression, in particular, is a leading cause of disability and has profound effects on individuals and society. Physical activity (PA) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention to alleviate depressive symptoms and promote well-being. However, people with depression often encounter substantial barriers to PA participation, exacerbating sedentary behaviors and health disparities. Methods: This systematic review synthesizes findings from 14 peer-reviewed studies (n = 25,375 participants examining barriers and facilitators to PA engagement among individuals with clinically diagnosed depression. Studies included both qualitative and quantitative designs and were identified through searches in PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO. Inclusion criteria focused on studies involving participants with depression, as defined by DSM criteria, and reporting on PA-related barriers or facilitators. Studies involving healthy populations or comorbid severe physical conditions were excluded. Results and discussion: Adopting Bauman's socio-ecological model, there view categorizes determinants across multiple levels: individual (e.g., motivation, symptoms), interpersonal (e.g., social support), environmental (e.g., access to facilities), and policy/cultural level (e.g., educational status). Findings underscore the importance of multi-level, tailored interventions to address the complex challenges faced by individuals with depression in engaging in PA. Recommendations are provided to guide the development of inclusive, context-sensitive strategies that promote mental health through PA. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42025631996, identifier CRD42025631996

Lo sport che educa: tra miti e realtà

It is widely sustained the notion that sport is a powerful tool to generate apeaceful society and to promote positive values. However, the diffusion ofillegal and anti-social behaviours (e.g. substance abuse, financial scandals,bullying, harassment, social exclusion) related to sport practice suggeststhat sport can play an ambivalent role in promoting values. It is necessaryto think cautiously the educative role of sport. The analysis of the main pedagogical approaches, good practices and international projects highlightshow sport can be effective in promoting values only when the educationalapproach is student-centred, based on active learning and focused on lifeskills promotion. Starting from these premises, a group of international Organizations in collaboration with researchers at the University of Padua developed a research programme for the promotion of education throughsport in schools, obtaining positive preliminary results related to students’prosocial behaviours.La nozione che lo sport sia uno strumento per la promozione di una societàpacifica e sia portatore di valori positivi trasmissibili tramite la praticastessa è radicata e diffusa. Tuttavia, il diffondersi di pratiche illegali e diepisodi antisociali (ad esempio abuso di sostanze, scandali finanziari, bullismo,maltrattamenti, esclusione sociale) legati a molti contesti della praticasportiva suggerisce come lo sport giochi un ruolo quantomeno ambivalentenella trasmissione di valori. È necessario considerare con cautela ilruolo dello sport come strumento educativo. L’analisi dei principali approccipedagogici, delle buone pratiche e dei progetti internazionali porta adevidenziare come lo sport possa promuovere valori positivi solo quando viè una progettazione consapevole di un percorso allievo-centrico ed un usoattento di strategie di apprendimento attivo per la promozione di life skills.Sulla base di queste considerazioni, un gruppo di Organizzazioni Internazionaliin collaborazione con ricercatori dell’Università di Padova hasviluppato un programma per la promozione dell’educazione attraverso losport nella scuola, che ha portato risultati positivi nell’ambito dei comportamentipro-sociali degli studenti coinvolti

Assessing postural balance control in young dinghy sailors pre, during and post training sessions

Objective: This study examined the acute effect of training on postural balance among young dinghy sailors. By measuring sway path and sway area of the center of pressure (CoP), the objective was to investigate whether training sessions on dinghy sailboat influence sway path and sway area measurements. Methods: Twelve competitive sailors (Optimist and Laser Radial class) performed a set of balance tests on both stable and unstable surfaces, with open and closed eyes, measured over three days. The first day served to familiarize the participants with the protocol. On the second and third days, CoP sway path and sway areas were assessed before, during and after the training session using a Wii Balance Board (WBB). Results: A general improvement in balance control was observed in most of the measured parameters. Statistical analysis (RM ANOVA) revealed significant reductions in sway path and sway area with closed eyes on an unstable surface comparing pre-, during- and post- measurement on the second day (p < 0.05), and for sway path with open and closed eyes on an unstable surface on the third day (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Findings of the present study show a short-term effect of sailing sessions on balance, suggesting that a single training session can induce acute improvements in postural control among young athletes. It is possible that the observed acute improvements are associated with immediate neuromuscular adaptation following sailing activity, specifically due to the unpredictable and dynamic environment in which sailing takes place. However, the temporal duration of this effect appears to be limited. As balance is an essential skill in sailing performance, future studies should investigate long-term effects and retention of training-induced improvements in postural control

Brasil e Itália : analise dos contributos da Educação Física para a formação do professor

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi analisar, sob uma perspectiva comparada, a presença dos contributos da Educação Física em dois cursos (brasileiro e italiano) que formam professores para atuar na Educação Infantil e nos anos iniciais do Ensino Fundamental. A metodologia utilizada foi de estudos comparados sob a unidade de análise currículo, de modo a identificar relações de similaridade, diferenças e sentidos nos dois cursos estudados. Compuseram o corpus empírico de análise os documentos brasileiros e italianos correspondentes: diretrizes nacionais para a formação de professores; projetos pedagógicos dos cursos e os planos de ensino das disciplinas com estreita relação com a Educação Física. Como resultado, destaca-se que os contributos da Educação Física estão pouco presentes no curso brasileiro e mais frequentes no curso italiano. Isso se deve ao número de disciplinas, a quantidade de professores da Educação Física e a carga horária dedicada a esses conteúdos. No currículo brasileiro, a centralidade está no corpo e na relação com a arte, em específico, a dança; no italiano, os temas mais presentes são atividade motora, atividade esportiva e jogo de movimento. Quanto às áreas de interface, o currículo brasileiro se organiza pela perspectiva sociocultural, enquanto no italiano pela maior influência da psicologia do desenvolvimento

Barriere all’attività fisica di giovani adulti con disabilità intellettiva percepite dai loro genitori e allenatori

Physical activity (PA) is essential for promoting well-being, health, and positive social relations. Nevertheless, in industrialized countries, high levels of physical inactivity are reported, with higherlevels in people with disabilities. People with intellectual disability (ID) are characterized by particularly high inactivity rates and have various barriers to regularly participating in PA. The aim ofthe present research was to explore the barriers to PA of young adults with ID perceived by their parents and sports coaches. The cross-sectional study involved 52 parents and 9 coaches, who provided information on 55 young adults with mild or moderate ID, filling two separate questionnaire packages, one for parents and the other for coaches.The main reported barriers were the low number of available PA programs, the prejudice toward the disability, the level of expertise of the sports coaches, and the lack of motivation to PA practice of people with ID.The intervention trajectories are therefore multiple including actions on policies at a general and a local level (PA programs availability and accessibility seem intervention targets), educational actions to promote inclusion and reduce stigma, and programs to support parents and to improve the relational and teaching abilities of coaches

I giochi di lotta in educazione fisica: effetti sull’aggressività degli adolescenti

Prevenire la violenza e altri comportamenti antisociali rappresenta un’importante sfida educativa. La scuola può giocare un ruolochiave nella gestione dei comportamenti aggressivi degli adolescenti proprio per la sua funzione di agenzia di socializzazione.L’educazione fisica in questo senso ha delle potenzialità molto importanti proprio per la riconosciuta efficacia nel migliorare le abilità sociali e nella possibilità di sperimentazione e gestione delle emozioni. In particolare i giochi di lotta hanno un elevato valore educativo, e vengono riconosciuti loro importanti funzioni in ambito motorio, socio-affettivo e cognitivo. L’esperienza proposta riguarda un intervento educativo sui giochi di lotta condotto in due scuole secondarie di primo grado con l’obiettivo di valutare quali fossero gli effetti nella gestionedell’aggressività degli studenti