Building on the Hong Kong Ministerial: A Critical Year for the DOHA Development Round

International Relations/Trade,

Working harder and smarter: investigating an association between physical activity behaviour and social physique anxiety in a naturalistic environment

Social physique anxiety (SPA) is experienced when an individual perceives themselves to be the recipient of negative body evaluation by others, and has been hypothesised to deter physical activity participation for some individuals. Despite the recognised disparity between male and female body-image concerns, with females consistently reporting greater SPA than males, previous literature is yet to demonstrate a significant association between SPA and physical activity behaviour. The current study investigated an association between sex, physical activity frequency, physical activity intensity and SPA. Currently active users (N = 33 males; N = 31 females) of an on-campus university-run gym participated in this study. Participants were required to complete a background physical activity questionnaire and the 12-item social physique anxiety scale (SPAS) before performing an exercise session at a self-selected level of exertion, with the intensity of each session measured via heart rate monitor. An independent samples t-test revealed female participants (M=41.09, SD=10.46) reported significantly higher SPAS scores than males (M=26.96, SD=6.20). Subsequent ANOVA analyses revealed no significant differences in SPA by physical activity frequency, or physical activity intensity, with an interaction analysis also proving non-significant. Males and females differed in terms of physical activity choice, with females more likely to perform aerobic activity and males more inclined to perform anaerobic activity. The finding for female participants to report higher SPA is consistent with previous literature and may reflect a psychological manifestation of a disproportionate cultural emphasis for females to appear attractive. The current findings are also consistent with previous literature in failing to uncover a significant association between SPA and physical activity frequency, suggesting SPA may be able to be successfully negotiated in order to facilitate the performance of regular physical activity. SPA was not significantly linked to how strenuously an individual may exercise despite a tendency for those performing moderate intensity activity to report higher SPA. Findings are discussed in consideration of practical limitations for identifying links between SPA and aspects of physical activity behaviour

A systematic review of social identity-based interventions and their active ingredients

How effective are social identity-based interventions at increasing social identity?Which social identity-based interventions are the most effective at increasing social identity

Co-developing peer interventions in health-related contexts: A case study from exercise referral

Objective: Peer support interventions can be successful in enhancing physical activity (PA) in a variety of health-related contexts. However, the evidence base remains equivocal, and ways to integrate structured peer support within the context of exercise referral schemes (ERSs) remain unexplored. In this regard, few studies consider the prospective acceptability of peer support interventions. Prior qualitative exploration can elicit insight into factors likely to influence peer intervention success, thus maximising the likelihood of developing and implementing effective peer support interventions. This study assessed the prospective acceptability of a peer support intervention for exercise referral. Design/Setting: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 ERS clients (n = 10) and providers (n = 4) across two ERS sites in the North West of England, UK. Method: Interviews covered preferred demographic and personal characteristics of ERS peers and prospective peer roles. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: A desirable ERS peer was perceived as someone who was positive and empathetic, with good interpersonal skills. ERS peers were considered to present a promising opportunity to enhance the accessibility of emotional, motivational and informational support among ERS clients while alleviating burden on ERS providers. Conclusion: Study findings have relevance to the integration of peer support in comparable ERS contexts, highlighting the value of developmental research to refine peer recruitment criteria and to facilitate ownership and support among providers across a variety of health-related contexts

A systematic review of social identity-based interventions and their active ingredients

How effective are social identity-based interventions at increasing social identity?Which social identity-based interventions are the most effective at increasing social identity

The legacy of Lutheranism in a secular Nordic society : An introduction

Peer reviewe

Peer Supporters’ Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing needs:Key Factors and Opportunities for Co-Produced Training

Abstract Introduction Peer supporters are a valuable asset to mental health and support services, but their own mental health needs are often overlooked in research and practice. This study explored peer supporters' perceived challenges of maintaining their mental health and emotional wellbeing and co‐produced training needs. Methods A qualitative approach was used to explore factors affecting peer supporters' mental health and emotional wellbeing. Semi‐structured interviews and focus groups were conducted online with 11 peer supporters across North East England. Results A thematic analysis identified: ‘Lack of training and support’, ‘Role ambiguity’ and ‘Emotional labour’ as challenges experienced by peer supporters in relation to maintaining their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Peer supporters' own lived experiences had the potential to act as a barrier towards providing support to others. Conflict with peer ‘supportees’ sometimes negatively impacted on the peer supporter experience. Participant responses emphasised a need for person‐centred, co‐produced training. Conclusion This work highlights the need for targeted training for peer supporters, including both role‐specific education and strategies to support their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Patient or Public Contribution Participants were contacted and asked to provide feedback on finalised themes to ensure the analysis was congruent with their experiences, further enabling the future development of an emotional wellbeing training programme for peer supporters

A Qualitative Exploration of Peer Supporters’ Experiences of Undertaking a Co-Produced Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Training Programme

Intro: Peer supporters play a crucial role in mental health and support services, but their own mental health and emotional wellbeing are often neglected by themselves, and, often, their organisations. Here, we report findings from a qualitative interview study of peer supporters who completed a co-produced emotional wellbeing training programme. Method: Ten semi-structured interviews with peer supporters working in the North East of England were conducted to explore their experiences of the training programme. Results: Thematic analysis of the data produced three overarching themes. In theme 1, ‘Increasing psychological preparedness and identifying self-care and coping strategies’, we found that peer supporters improved their knowledge of how to manage sensitive topics such as aggression and suicide and felt more confident in their peer support roles resultantly. In theme 2, ‘It’s good to know you’re not alone’, peer supporters discussed their experience of loneliness in their roles, and as a result realised their own need for peer support to help maintain their wellbeing. Theme 3, ‘Toward the future: next steps’ encapsulated peer supporters’ willingness to continue their role development and to create a peer support network to continue to obtain mutual support. Conclusion: Our findings emphasise the perceived emotional wellbeing benefits of a coproduced peer supporter training programme. Participants highlighted the need for coproduced training programmes that are (1) emotion-focussed, (2) provide access to other peer supporters, and (3) provide future avenues for a peer supporter network of mutual support and professional development activities and training opportunities. Patient or Public Contribution: Individuals with lived experience of mental ill health and peer support were consulted in the development of interview questions, and provided feedback on the finalised themes to ensure the analysis and interpretations were congruent with their experiences

Exercise referral scheme participant characteristics, referral mode and completion status

Objective: There is recent evidence that exercise referral schemes (ERSs) are beginning to permit self-referral access. Notwithstanding this, to date it is unknown whether key referral characteristics, such as age, gender and socioeconomic status are associated with a greater likelihood of self-referring to an ERS, and whether self-referral participants are more or less likely to complete schemes, than traditional healthcare referrals. Design/Setting: This study presents an evaluation and cross-sectional exploration of key participant referral characteristics of those (n = 647) who signed up to ‘Active West Lancs’; a 12-week ERS in the northwest of England. Methods: Chi-square analysis, tests of difference and binary logistic regression were conducted to explore associations between key referral characteristics and (1) the likelihood of accessing Active West Lancs via a self- or healthcare-referral and (2) the likelihood of completion.Results: Fifty-six percent of participants accessed the scheme via self-referral. These participants were more likely to be women, to report a musculoskeletal primary health condition, to access a specific site and to do so during spring. The scheme had an overall completion rate of 42.2. Participants who were older, resided in less socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods, and accessed a specific site were more likely to complete. Self-referral participants were not more or less likely to complete than those who enrolled via healthcare-referral. Conclusions: These data do not directly identify a clear benefit or detriment to Active West Lancs’ incorporation of self-referral participants. Notwithstanding this, enabling self-referral ERS access may widen scheme participation opportunities among those reluctant to seek referral from a healthcare provider and reduce the administrative burden for healthcare providers themselves