A systems thinking approach to understanding youth active recreation

Harriet Koorts; Paul M. Salmon; Christopher T. V. Swain; Samuel Cassar; David Strickland; Jo Salmon

doi:10.1186/s12966-022-01292-2

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A systems thinking approach to understanding youth active recreation

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A systems thinking approach to understanding youth active recreation

Harriet Koorts, Paul M. Salmon, Christopher T. V. Swain, Samuel Cassar, David Strickland and Jo Salmon

The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol.19(1), pp.1-19

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01292-2

PMCID: PMC9097093

PMID: 35549726

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

Active recreation

Adolescents

Children

Health behaviour

Physical activity

Systems approach

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Background: Active recreation contributes to child and adolescent physical activity, however, factors affecting uptake are poorly understood at the systems level. The aims of this study were: (1) to use systems analysis methods to understand youth active recreation in Victoria, Australia, (ii) identify potential system leverage points to enhance active recreation, and (iii) explore stakeholder views of systems analysis methods for informing practice and policy decision-making. Methods: Phase 1: Umbrella review of systematic reviews (2013–2018), synthesising evidence for correlates, determinants and intervention evidence for promoting active recreation. Phase 2: Development of three systems models (ActorMap and two ActivMaps), depicting active recreation actors/organisations, correlates, determinants and intervention evidence. Phase 3: Development of causal loop diagrams (CLDs) and identification of leverage points based on the Action Scales Model. Phase 4: Model feedback via stakeholder interviews (n = 23; 16 organisations). Results: From the literature, 93 correlates and determinants, and 49 intervention strategies were associated with child and adolescent active recreation; the majority located at a social or individual level. Ten potential system leverage points were identified in the CLDs, which differed for pre-schoolers versus children and adolescents. Only time outdoors (an event leverage point) emerged for all age groups. Changes to the built and natural environment (i.e., land use planning, urban design) as a complete domain was a key structural leverage point for influencing active recreation in children and adolescents. Subject matter experts and stakeholder interviews identified 125 actors operating across seven hierarchical active recreation system levels in Victoria. Stakeholder interviews identified 12 areas for future consideration and recommendations for practice/policy influence. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the need for dynamic models of system behaviour in active recreation, and to capture stakeholder influence as more than a transactional role in evidence generation and use. Effective responses to youth inactivity require a network of interventions that target specific leverage points across the system. Our models illustrate areas that may have the greatest system-level impact, such as changes to the built and natural environment, and they provide a tool for policy, appraisal, advocacy, and decision-making within and outside of government.

Details

Title: A systems thinking approach to understanding youth active recreation
Authors: Harriet Koorts (Corresponding Author) - Deakin University
Paul M. Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
Christopher T. V. Swain (Author) - Deakin University
Samuel Cassar (Author) - Deakin University
David Strickland (Author) - Victoria Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
Jo Salmon (Author) - Deakin University
Publication details: The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol.19(1), pp.1-19
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-022-01292-2
ISSN: 1479-5868
PMID: 35549726; PMC9097093
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99640578602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Nutrition & Dietetics; Physiology

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