Sciences de l’activité physique - Publications // Human Kinetics - Publications

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Health beliefs and engagement in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity among cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study
(2020-05-12) Price, Jenson; Barrett-Bernstein, Meagan; Wurz, Amanda; Karvinen, Kristina; Brunet, Jennifer
Purpose: Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) can alleviate many adverse side effects and symptoms caused by cancer treatments; yet, most cancer survivors are insufficiently active. Evidence shows that theory-based PA behavior change interventions are more effective than non-theory-based interventions; thus, it is necessary to ascertain modifiable theoretical factors associated with moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA among cancer survivors. Drawing on the health belief model (HBM), the associations between moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA and (1) perceived susceptibility to cancer recurrence and health problems, (2) perceived severity of cancer recurrence and health problems, (3) perceived benefits of PA for reducing risk of cancer recurrence and health problems, (4) perceived barriers to PA, and (5) PA barrier self-efficacy among cancer survivors were examined. Methods: A total of 123 adult cancer survivors (Mage = 50.1 ± 15.5 years; 82.9% female) completed an online self-report survey assessing sociodemographic and medical characteristics, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA, and the HBM constructs. Data were analyzed descriptively and using hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, time since cancer diagnosis, and treatments received, the HBM constructs collectively explained 29% of the variance in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA. Perceived benefits of PA (β = .20, 95% CI [1.81, 11.67], p = .007) and PA barrier self-efficacy (β = .42, 95% CI [0.26, 0.53], p < .001) were significantly associated with moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA. Conclusion: Raising awareness of the benefits of PA for reducing risk of cancer recurrence and health problems and strengthening self-efficacy to overcome PA barriers may help to promote cancer survivors’ attainment of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA guidelines.
A scoping review of measures used to assess body image in women with breast cancer
(2021-01-02) Brunet, Jennifer; Price, Jenson
Objective: The emergence of body image studies in the oncology setting has led to the use of numerous measures to assess different dimensions of body image. The present study is a scoping review of the literature on body image in women with breast cancer to describe: measures used to assess body image in women with breast cancer, dimensions the measures used tap into, and gaps and issues needing attention going forward. Methods: Three databases were searched for peer-reviewed original studies that had: (1) full-texts available in English; (2) focused on women with breast cancer; and (3) assessed body image. Results: The search yielded 3,729 peer-reviewed articles; after screening, 562 articles met inclusion criteria. Of the 88 measures used, 28 were used in more than two studies and analyzed herein. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire constituted the most frequently used measure. Most measures used focused on the affective dimension of body image (n = 24/28, 85.7%), followed by the cognitive (n = 20/28, 71.4%), behavioral (n = 13/28, 46.4%), and perceptual dimensions (n = 13/28, 46.4%). Conclusions: This review provides a current summary of measures used to assess body image in women with breast cancer. Although some further development and refinement of body image measures could benefit the field, depending on the questions researchers or clinicians seek to answer, there are many available for use. Future research should use these measures to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving body image in women with breast cancer across the lifespan.
Describing and exploring self-esteem, physical self-perceptions, physical activity and self-efficacy in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors
(2019-10-24) Wurz, Amanda; Brunet, Jennifer
Objectives: (a) Describe levels of physical and global self-esteem and (b) explore the relationships between these types of self-esteem and physical activity (PA) behaviour, self-efficacy for PA and physical self-perceptions among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Methods: A total of 87 AYA cancer survivors (Mage = 32.90 ± 4.38 years), who were on average 2.08 ± 1.37 years post-treatment, participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Descriptive statistics, correlations and hierarchical multivariate linear regression analyses were used to analyse the data. Results: Moderate levels of physical and global self-esteem were reported. Both types of self-esteem were significantly related to physical self-perceptions, but not to PA behaviour nor self-efficacy for PA. Self-efficacy for PA moderated the relationship between physical self-perceptions and physical self-esteem, such that the association between physical self-perceptions and physical self-esteem was of stronger magnitude at higher levels of self-efficacy for PA than at lower levels of self-efficacy for PA. Conclusion: This study provides a starting point for describing self-esteem and identifying the circumstances under which self-esteem may be optimised among AYA cancer survivors. Fostering feelings of confidence, competence and control over PA may help to promote psychological well-being among AYA cancer survivors.
Feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth behaviour change intervention for promoting physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption among rural-living young adult cancer survivors
(2021-04-02) Price, Jenson; Brunet, Jennifer
Purpose: We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week telehealth behavior change intervention to promote physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption among rural-living young adult cancer survivors. Methods: Participants met with a health coach once a week for 60 minutes for 12 weeks. Feasibility measures included rates of recruitment, enrollment, attrition, retention, adherence, and missing data. Acceptability was assessed using semi-structured interviews. Findings: Over 1-year, 18 individuals self-referred, 9 were eligible and consented to participate, and 2 dropped out. Retention was 74% and adherence was 95%. Participants considered the length of the intervention, synchronous communication with the health coach, and the distance-based delivery mode to be acceptable. Moreover, participants described key behavior change techniques and recommended minor changes. Implications: Findings provide information that can help refine future trials seeking to increase access to behavior change interventions and optimize participation in health-promoting behaviors for underserved populations. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03691545. Registered on October 1, 2018.
Women's experiences with yoga after a cancer diagnosis: a qualitative meta-synthesis – part II
(2023-03-29) Price, Jenson; Sharma, Sitara; Brunet, Jennifer
A review of qualitative research exploring women's experiences with yoga after a cancer diagnosis can provide important insights into their motives, barriers, and preferences for yoga participation, which can be used to enhance engagement. In this meta-study meta-synthesis, 6 electronic databases were systematically searched to identify qualitative studies focused on women diagnosed with cancer who engage in yoga. The search yielded 6878 results after de-duplication; of these, 24 articles were eligible and included. Extracted data pertaining to the results, methods, and theoretical approach(es) were analyzed. This paper synthesizes and integrates results from 16 of the 24 articles focused on women's motives, barriers, and preferences for participating in yoga programs and interventions; it is Part II of a 2-part meta-study meta-synthesis. Motives to participate in yoga included: rehabilitation, physical activity, social support, and novel experience. Barriers centred around time constraints, lack of intentionality, online adaptation difficulties, health condition, and cost. Main approaches to delivering yoga comprised: in-person, in-person with an at-home component, asynchronous online, and synchronous online. Each mode of delivery presented its own benefits and challenges, with suggestions for improvement; participants highlighted the value of supportive and knowledgeable instructors, the ability to connect with others, and the importance of comprehensive classes focused on more than just movement. Participants' challenges also highlighted a need to actively seek solutions to anticipated challenges prior to delivering interventions and programs. Findings provide information that can be used to develop and deliver yoga interventions and programs to women diagnosed with cancer that prioritize their needs and preferences.
Cognitive impairment in young adults after cancer treatment: A descriptive correlational study on levels and associations with disease-related, psychological, and lifestyle factors
(2024-12-26) Sharma, Sitara; Brunet, Jennifer
Purpose: Young adults report challenges concerning cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). This study aimed to: (1) describe cognition in young adults post-cancer treatment using self-report and performance-based measures, and (2) examine associations between cognition and relevant disease-related, psychological, and lifestyle (physical activity; PA) factors. Methods: Forty-six young adults (Mage = 31.4 ± 5.4 years; 91.3% female) completed web-based questionnaires and neuropsychological tests; data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations. Results: Most (60.9%) self-reported clinically meaningful CRCI and displayed poorer executive functioning and processing speed (but not working memory) than normative data. Disease-related factors, psychological factors, and PA had null-to-moderate (rs = −0.32–0.28), small-to-large (rs = −0.74–0.77), and trivial-to-moderate (rs = −0.16 – 0.36) correlations with cognition (respectively), with differences in magnitude between self-reported and objective cognition. Conclusion: The observed correlations warrant further exploration in larger prospective studies, and trials should investigate causative mechanisms and specific PA parameters.
A scoping review of studies exploring physical activity and cognition among persons with cancer
(2023-08-10) Brunet, Jennifer; Sharma, Sitara
Purpose: This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize published studies on physical activity (PA) and cognition among persons with cancer and elucidate knowledge gaps. Methods: Articles were identified through electronic and manual searches (02/21 and 03/22) using the following inclusion criteria: (1) empirical, peer-reviewed publication in English, (2) sample comprised persons with cancer, and (3) reported at least one statistical association between PA and cognition. Multiple reviewers independently performed study selection and data extraction, and results were mapped in tabular and narrative form. Results: Ninety-seven articles were eligible; these were largely published from 2017 to 2022 (54.6%), conducted in high-income countries (96.9%), and presented (quasi-)experimental studies (73.2%). Samples predominantly comprised women with breast cancer (48.5%), and recruitment often occurred post-treatment (63.9%). PA interventions included: aerobic (32.3%), resistance (4.8%), combined aerobic/resistance (38.7%), mind-body (19.4%), or other PA (4.8%). Most (66%) articles reported inconclusive findings; 32% were positive (in support of PA promoting cognition or vice versa), and 2.1% were negative. Diverse samples and studies with long-term follow-up were scarce. Conclusions: The state of knowledge is insufficient and more rigorous, large-scale studies are required to provide definitive conclusions about the cognitive benefits of PA among persons with cancer. Implications for cancer survivors: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) thwarts quality of life. This review summarizes what is known about the association between PA and cognition among persons with cancer and concludes that the evidence is currently equivocal. Hence, it remains uncertain if PA interventions can reduce CRCI, and large-scale PA intervention trials explicitly designed to promote cognition are greatly needed.
Investigating physical activity knowledge and beliefs as correlates of behaviour in the general population: a cross-sectional study
(2020-03-30) Brunet, Jennifer; Abi-Nader, Patrick; Barrett-Bernstein, Meagan; Karvinen, Kristina
This study examines knowledge of physical activity (PA) guidelines for cancer prevention and beliefs of the role of PA in preventing cancer as correlates of moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) behaviour among adults. Measures assessing socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of PA guidelines, and PA beliefs and behaviour were completed online by 654 adults (Mage = 36.92 ± 14.61 years) with no history of cancer. Data were analyzed descriptively and using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis. Approximately half the sample was aware of PA guidelines for cancer prevention (49.24%) and believed that PA was extremely effective in reducing the risk of developing cancer (48.93%). Knowledge of PA guidelines for cancer prevention was associated with a greater likelihood of being active (unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.18–2.34; p <.01; adjusted OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.36–3.11; p <.001). Beliefs regarding the effectiveness of PA in preventing cancer was not associated with a greater likelihood of being active. There is a lack of awareness of current PA guidelines for cancer prevention. Experimental studies are needed to further explore if increasing adults’ knowledge of PA guidelines for cancer prevention can enhance PA levels.
The process of self-management: a qualitative case study reporting on cancer survivors’ and program staff’s experiences within one self-management support intervention
(2020-03-03) Brunet, Jennifer; Wurz, Amanda; Srivastava, Deeksha
Background: Cancer survivors are responsible for managing a range of adverse physical, psychological, and social effects post-diagnosis. These negative effects often co-occur with pre-existing co-morbid conditions. Recognizing the complex chronicity of the disease, self-management support (SMS) interventions have been developed to promote cancer survivors’ knowledge, skills, and confidence to self-manage their own health. Though beneficial, the processes underlying self-management have yet to be explicated. Aim: To explore how a community-based SMS intervention (i.e., cancer coaching) fosters cancer survivors’ knowledge, confidence, and skills. Method: A qualitative case study adopting multiple viewpoints was utilized. Seventeen cancer survivors were interviewed and six program staff participated in a focus group. The interviews and the focus group were analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive approach guided by principles of qualitative description. Results: Cancer survivors and staff offered complimentary perspectives that enhanced understanding of how the SMS intervention fosters cancer survivors’ knowledge, confidence, and skills to self-manage their health. Four themes captured strategies necessary to promote self-management: (1) looking beyond the disease: the importance of person-centered care, (2) co-creation: the key to effective and meaningful SMS, (3) fostering activation via tailored, targeted, and expertly sourced information and resources, and (4) the necessity of dependable and impartial emotional support. Within each theme, pertinent SMS strategies were described from the viewpoint of cancer survivors and staff. Discussion and Conclusion: Findings offer a deeper understanding of how one community-based SMS intervention promotes self-management and highlight valuable SMS strategies that could be incorporated into future interventions and existing programs.
Boxing with Parkinson’s disease: Findings from a qualitative study using self-determination theory
(2021-02-24) Brunet, Jennifer; Price, Jenson; Wurz, Amanda; McDonough, Meghan; Nantel, Julie
Purpose: Adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience debilitating symptoms that may be mitigated by boxing. Yet, attrition from boxing programs is problematic. Understanding whether PD-specific boxing programs can enhance motivation to remain physically active is important. This study investigated adults’ experiences within a PD-specific boxing program and explored their perspectives on how the program has influenced physical activity motivational processes using a self-determination theory (SDT) lens. Methods: Nine adults with PD who took part in the Boxing 4 Health PD-specific boxing program completed face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: The analysis yielded five themes: (1) I made an informed decision to participate and it feels good, (2) Boxing helps me stay active and keep moving, (3) To keep me going, the boxing program needs to have variety and allow for input, (4) A program that can be adapted to me is important, and (5) The instructor and the group facilitate my continued participation in the program. Conclusion: Providing participants with adapted exercises, varied sessions, and opportunities to provide input in a group-based PD-specific boxing program may be conducive to enhancing motivation for physical activity. Further, SDT may be a useful theoretical framework for developing and evaluating PD-specific programs.
A systematic review summarizing the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on physical activity behaviour in cancer survivors
(2020-02-08) Brunet, Jennifer; Wurz, Amanda; Abi Nader, Patrick; Bélanger, Mathieu
Objective: To synthesize knowledge regarding the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on cancer survivors’ physical activity behaviour. Methods: Ten electronic databases were searched for articles reporting on the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on cancer survivors’ physical activity behaviour. Articles were included if they met the following criteria: English-language, participants were adult cancer survivors, the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on physical activity behaviour was assessed, and physical activity behaviour was measured at least twice. Data were extracted and summarized descriptively. Results: Seventeen articles representing 11 studies met inclusion criteria. Two studies reported within-person increases in physical activity behaviour and one reported decreases. Nine studies reported between-group differences in physical activity behaviour favouring the intervention group. Conclusions: Health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions may increase cancer survivors’ physical activity behaviour. However, increases may depend on administering additional behaviour change techniques and resources. Given the limited number of studies, degree of heterogeneity, and high level of bias observed, more research is needed to ascertain the effect of health care provider-delivered interventions on cancer survivors’ physical activity behaviour and to compare different interventions.
Predictors of cancer survivors’ response to a community-based exercise program
(2019-04-29) Brunet, Jennifer; Howell, Doris; Au, Darren; Jones, Jennifer M.; Bradley, Holly; Berlingeri, Antonia; Santa Mina, Daniel
Objective: To explore the degree to which sociodemographic (i.e., age, sex, ethnicity, weight status, vocational status, marital status), medical (i.e., stage of cancer, treatment status, comorbidity burden), functional (i.e., selfrated health, exercise capacity), cognitive (i.e., exercise self-efficacy beliefs), and behavioural (i.e., program adherence, extra-curricular exercise) factors predicted cancer-related fatigue and quality of life among 224 cancer survivors who participated in the community-based Wellspring Cancer Exercise Program (WCEP). Design: Prospective, quasi-experimental single-group repeated measures design. Method: Data on predictors and outcomes were collected using self-report and objective measures upon enrollment in the program (week 0), every 10 weeks until program completion (weeks 10, 20, 30), and at 16-weeks follow-up (46 weeks). Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results: In general, participants who were working or transitioning to work, rated their health better, and had higher exercise self-efficacy beliefs had lower cancer-related fatigue, and those who rated their health better and had higher exercise self-efficacy beliefs had higher quality of life. Also, there was a significant interaction between time and exercise self-efficacy beliefs for cancer-related fatigue and quality of life such that greater improvements were observed among participants with higher exercise self-efficacy beliefs. Conclusion: Cancer survivors’ perceptions of their health and their ability to exercise should be fostered to ensure they respond positively to exercise programs in terms of cancer-related fatigue and quality of life.
Posttraumatic Growth and its correlates among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer: A brief report
(2019-10-10) Barrett-Bernstein, Meagan; Wurz, Amanda; Brunet, Jennifer
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe posttraumatic growth (PTG) levels among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer (AYAs), and estimate relationships between PTG and medical (cancer type, age at diagnosis, time since treatment), behavioral (physical activity), and psychological (appearance evaluations, body satisfaction) variables. Methods: Eighty-eight AYAs (Mage=33 ± 4.4 years) completed a survey online that included the PTG-Inventory (PTG-I). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations. Findings: Total and subdimension PTG-I scores indicated moderate-to-high PTG levels, with the highest and lowest scores reported for appreciation of life and spiritual change, respectively. Appearance evaluations was moderately and positively correlated with the spiritual change subdimension (r = .31, p < .001). Relationships between PTG and other variables were of weak magnitude and not statistically significant (rs = 0–.21, ps > .05). Conclusions: More research exploring variables related to PTG among AYAs is needed to better understand antecedents and outcomes of PTG.
Using a dyadic approach to explore parental support for physical activity among young cancer survivors
(2020-01-19) Price, Jenson; Wurz, Amanda; Ramphal, Raveena; Wilson, Kathleen; Brunet, Jennifer
Background: Physical activity confers many physical and psychosocial benefits for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, yet most are not active enough to accrue benefits. Parental support for physical activity may be important to consider when exploring factors that influence physical activity in this population. Purpose: Explore adolescent and young adult cancer survivors' experiences of parental support for physical activity received and their parents' experiences of support provided. Methods: Ten adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (Mage = 17.4 ± 3.2 years; 70% male) and one of their parents (50% fathers) were interviewed separately. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: Participants' experiences were summarized into three main themes: (1) the basics - instrumental, informational, and emotional support, (2) companionship support - doing it together, and (3) role modeling - a double-edged sword. In general, there was congruence between participants' perceptions of the types of support provided and received for physical activity. However, parents felt their role was to provide instrumental, informational, and emotional support, whereas adolescent and young adult cancer survivors emphasized the importance of companionship support. Conclusions: Findings underscore the complexity of parental support for physical activity among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Developing and testing resources to empower adolescent and young adult cancer survivors to ask for parental support and to enable parents to support their child's physical activity is imperative.Implications for RehabilitationMany adolescent and young adult cancer survivors do not participate in enough physical activity to acquire physical and psychosocial benefits.Parental support may represent a key factor that influences physical activity participation.Rehabilitation professionals should consider the influence parents may have on adolescent and young adult cancer survivors' physical well-being post-diagnosis. Promoting co-participation may be a viable strategy to enhance physical activity participation among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Developing and testing resources to empower adolescent and young adult cancer survivors to ask for parental support and to enable parents to support their child’s physical activity is imperative.
The National Coaching for Para Sport Summit Report
(2025-08-14) Culver, Diane; Konoval, Timothy; Ozturk Kizilkaya, Rabia; Rourke, Siobhan; Graper, Sydney
The National Coaching for Para Sport Summit (NCPS), held on May 2–3, 2023, at the University of Alberta’s Steadward Centre, brought together a diverse group of coaches, researchers, athletes, and stakeholders to advance inclusive coach development in Canadian Para sport. Hosted in collaboration by the University of Ottawa, University of Alberta, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee, NCPS brought together participants from across Canada. The NCPS, was designed as a hybrid event both in-person (Day 1: 38 participants; Day 2: 20 participants) and online (Day 1: 65 participants; Day 2: 9 participants). The NCPS aimed to catalyze sustainable systems change by fostering national dialogue, sharing research-informed practices, and co-creating innovative, user-centred solutions to address challenges in Para sport coaching. To guide this process, the summit adopted a Design Thinking (DT) framework (Brown, 2008), which emphasizes empathy, creative problem-solving, and iterative solution-building. Although widely used in business and education, DT remains under utilized in sport, making its application at the NCPS both timely and transformative. This report offered a thorough overview of the two-day summit and proposed recommendations for future actions regarding coach education for Para sport.
Evidence-Based Physical Activity Coaching: An Academic Co-Creation
(2025) Hussien, Julia; Marr, Jeff; Khodko, Liza; Abozmal, Dana; Ong, Haley; Brunet, Jennifer
Co-created with students in a sport and exercise psychology course, this resource includes a physical activity coaching assignment, summaries of five key theories and models of behaviour change (including key constructs and real-world applications), examples of case studies created by the authors, and case studies submitted by students.
"Giving Back to the Community": Young and Established Leaders' Perspectives of Community Engagement in Sports and Recreation Initiatives Serving Children and Youth
(2024) MacKay, Steph; Dallaire, Christine
Increasingly, researchers, practitioners, participants, governments, funders, and others involved with sport are suggesting that sport is good for children and youth – but only under the right conditions . “Good sport” requires careful consideration and targeted action to ensure participants have positive experiences. Caring adults, particularly those who had positive sport experiences in their childhood, can set the stage for “good sport” to happen for children and youth. One way they can do this is to return to volunteer and/or work with the very organizations that provided them with opportunities in their childhood or youth – what we call “giving back”. In this research project, we prepared reports, presentations, and academic manuscripts that detail the “giving back” experiences of young (aged 17-27) and established (aged 28+) adult leaders who engage in sport leadership roles with three community partners offering programs targeting children and/or youth, namely the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGC Ottawa), la Société des Jeux de l’Acadie (SJA) and the Arctic Winter Games International Committee (AWGIC). In each of the three cases, we discussed young and established leaders’ understandings of “community”. Our analyses also focused on the leaders’ motivations for “giving back” and the meanings they gave to their responsibilities, in addition to and beyond sporting fervor, as practices of engagement and commitment to young people and to the “community” (however they defined it). While completing the analyses, three themes emerged that needed further exploration. These themes include – youth development, sense of belonging and community development, and deep motivations for working in these contexts. These themes are the focus of this report. Highlighting these themes will give our community partners, governments, and funders a sense, within these sports programs, of how volunteers and employees understand their work (with respect to how it helps children and youth develop), how they feel while doing this work, (with respect to sense of belonging and community development) and why they do this work (deep motivations). We also feel a responsibility to share the leaders’ voices about the value of these programs and activities and, ultimately, some of the conversational paths that might help our community partners and other community sport organizations continue to deliver transformative sport programming and events for children and youth.
‘Giving Back to the Community”: Young and established leaders’ perspectives of their contributions to the Arctic Winter Games.
(2024-04) MacKay, Steph; Dallaire, Christine
The crux of our work in this case study and the research project in general explores the concept of giving back, a key aspect of community engagement, and a new concept to be applied to the AWG in a research context. We contextualize the third case study by first outlining the Arctic Winter Games history, mission, and vision, as gleaned from Arctic Winter Games informational materials (e.g., website, etc.) and academic research articles (e.g., Ferez et al. 2018, Filice, 2011). Next, we explain the methodology and research questions. The results are then presented and discussed; we open this section with data that explains how young and established leaders describe the AWG, including what “community” they perceive to serve while working for the AWG and what their sense of belonging is, with respect to the AWG. The analysis then turns to the young and established leaders’ (aged 22-73) experiences at the AWG. We attempt to explain how these leaders make sense of their responsibilities and actions in their leadership roles as an expression of their commitment to children and youth in their “communities” – in other words – the essence of their motivation to support and help others. To contextualize these experiences and help explain how and why the AWG young and established leaders continue their involvement with the club, recruitment and training processes are discussed. We conclude by examining the positive impact that the AWG is having on its participants as well as young and established leaders by asking the AWGIC and Host Societies to explore a few ideas we believe might help them continue to strengthen the “AWG community” through their work while at the same time acting as innovators in the larger Canadian sport community by continuing to deeply challenge sport and physical activity systems. Our goal with this report is to shed light on how young and established leaders involved with the AWG feel about giving back to their community (however they define it) and provide those associated with the AWG with some ideas for cultivating this notion of giving back among peoples of the circumpolar North.
« Redonner à la communauté » : L’engagement communautaire de jeunes adultes leaders aux Jeux de l’Acadie.
(2024-04) Dallaire, Christine; MacKay, Steph
Ce rapport explore l’engagement communautaire des jeunes adultes qui œuvrent au sein du mouvement des Jeux de l’Acadie. Les organismes communautaires, comme la Société des Jeux de l’Acadie (SJA), les Comités organisateurs des Finales des Jeux de l’Acadie (COFJA) et les comités régionaux, opèrent dans un environnement changeant où les jeunes sont maintenant considérés comme un capital communautaire, c’est-à-dire un potentiel, plutôt que comme un problème sociétal à gérer. Au sein de la francophonie minoritaire canadienne, par exemple, les jeunes sont souvent décrits en tant que « relève » sur qui repose l’avenir des communautés. D’ailleurs, le programme de leadership de la SJA, auparavant connu sous le nom d’« Académie jeunesse », a été rebaptisé « La Relève » après une refonte de sa structure et du contenu. En prenant des rôles de leadership au sein des organisations, les jeunes s’investissent dans la communauté. Cet engagement peut prendre différentes formes, que ce soit en œuvrant dans la programmation quotidienne ou encore en siégeant au sein des instances qui gouvernent la direction de l’organisme ou de la communauté (Zeldin, 2004). Si tous ces jeunes ne deviennent pas nécessairement des dirigeants communautaires, ils sont du moins formés à devenir de « bons citoyens ». Les Jeux de l’Acadie aspirent justement à prendre une place capitale et à être reconnus comme une référence dans « le développement de la jeunesse, de la langue française et de la culture acadienne » (SJA, Statuts et règlements, 2019, p. 1). Ainsi, tous les adultes et jeunes adultes qui œuvrent en tant que bénévoles ou employés, que ce soit à titre d’administrateurs au niveau de la gestion et de la gouvernance ou encore à titre d’entraîneurs, de chefs de mission ou de membres du COFJA qui organisent et gèrent la mise en œuvre de l’ensemble du mouvement des Jeux de l'Acadie, se vouent à « l'épanouissement de la jeunesse francophone » par le biais du sport compétitif et d’activités culturelles (SJA, Statuts et règlements, 2019, p. 1). Plusieurs des employés et bénévoles qui interviennent dans l’ensemble de la programmation des Jeux de l’Acadie sont d’anciens participants des Jeux régionaux et/ou de la grande Finale qui, ayant dépassé l’âge pour prendre part aux compétitions, poursuivent leur participation dans le mouvement. Ces anciens participants « redonnent » ainsi à leur communauté. En d’autres mots, ils deviennent des leaders au sein des Jeux, l’organisme qui leur a permis de devenir de « bons citoyens ». Il est donc opportun de s’intéresser de plus près aux expériences particulières d’anciens participants engagés localement au sein d’organisations qui, comme le mouvement des Jeux de l’Acadie, ont contribué à leur formation citoyenne par le biais de programmes de sport. Ce rapport explique d’abord le contexte de l’étude de cas en offrant une courte synthèse en résumant les objectifs et les programmes des Jeux de l’Acadie, tels que révélés dans la documentation officielle de la Société des Jeux de l’Acadie (par ex., site Web, statuts et règlements, documents administratifs). Le processus de recherche est ensuite détaillé, après quoi sont présentés résultats de l’étude. Les adultes œuvrant dans des postes de direction et les jeunes adultes que nous avons interrogés expliquent d’abord comment ils conçoivent les Jeux de l’Acadie, incluant la « communauté » que servent les Jeux de même que la « communauté » à laquelle ils tentent de contribuer. L’analyse se tourne ensuite vers les expériences des jeunes adultes leaders dans le cadre des Jeux. Nous essayons d’expliquer comment ces jeunes adultes font sens de leurs responsabilités et de leurs actions comme leaders engagés envers les adolescents de leur communauté. En d’autres mots, nous voulons cerner l’essence de leur motivation à appuyer et aider la génération suivante. Afin de comprendre pourquoi et comment les jeunes adultes poursuivent leur investissement dans les Jeux de l’Acadie, nous nous livrons à un examen des processus de recrutement et de formation. Nous concluons par quelques réflexions sur les liens entre les motivations des jeunes adultes et les buts des Jeux de l’Acadie. Nous offrons enfin quelques pistes de réflexion qui pourraient aider la Société des Jeux de l’Acadie à continuer d’encourager l’épanouissement de la jeunesse francophone au sein et au-delà de leur engagement dans les Jeux de l’Acadie.
“Giving Back to the Community”: Youth Community Engagement as Sport and Recreation Leaders at the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa
(2019-02) MacKay, Steph; Dallaire, Christine
This report explores the “community engagement” experiences of young adult leaders working with the BGCO. Community organizations like the BGCO operate in a shifting landscape that, in recent decades, has begun considering children and youth as community assets who represent potential, rather than a societal problem in need of management (how they were viewed in the past). Within these organizations, some children and youth are becoming engaged in their communities as leaders. While other children and youths who serve in these organizations may not necessarily become “community leaders,” they are still being groomed to become “good citizens” in their communities. While the definition of “good citizen” is fluid and constantly shifting (see Pykett, Saward & Schaefer, 2010), and while children and youth often have their own citizenship vocabulary (see Thorson, 2012), an intentional, prosocial approach that attempts to engage children and youth and help them acquire qualities Canadians’ feel represent “good citizens” is positive youth development (PYD). As Mahoney, Vandell, Simpkins and Zarrett (2009) suggest, a key factor for successful PYD is activity/program participation (e.g., out-of-school time activities). Through after-school and weekend programming, including recreational and competitive sport, the BGCO staff (paid and voluntary, administrators at the management level and young leaders who are usually “on-the floor”) use PYD to prepare children and youth for their role as “good citizens” and “community leaders” in the Ottawa community (BGCO, 2018b). Importantly, many of the BGCO staff are former club members who continue their involvement in the BGCO as employees or volunteers to “give back” to the BGCO and the greater Ottawa community. In other words, these young people return to work as “community leaders” for the organization that helped them become “good citizens.” This report contextualizes the case study by first outlining the BGCO mission, vision and history, as gleaned from BGCO informational materials (e.g., website, employee handbook, etc.). Next it explains the research questions and methodology. The results are presented and discussed; and administrators and young adult workers explain how they see the BGCO, including what “community” they perceive the BGCO to serve. The analysis then turns to the young leaders’ (aged 17-36) experiences at the BGCO. We attempt to explain how these leaders make sense of their responsibilities and actions in their leadership roles as an expression of their commitment to children and youth in their “communities” – in other words – the essence of their motivation to support and help others. To contextualize these experiences and help explain how and why the BGCO young adult leaders continue their involvement with the club, recruitment and training processes are discussed. We conclude by examining the positive impact that the BGCO is having on its members and young leaders and by asking the BGCO to explore a few ideas we believe might help them continue to encourage youths to transform themselves as “good citizens” and as “community leaders” within and beyond the BGCO.

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