Engaging the Diaspora by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2012-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Physical Activity and Recreation Lifestyle in Transition

Jerono P. Rotich

A Study of African Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Sports and Physical Activity

between Immigrant and Refugee Youth

Several researchers (Balgolpal 2000; Gordon-Larsen et al. 2003; Bailey 2004) have concluded that immigration, acculturation, enculturation, and adolescence are critical times of transformation that can cause serious problems, if ignored. Moreover, several other studies (Hellison et al. 2000;

Fahey, Instel, and Roth 2002) clearly indicate that, physically active, adolescent youth are more productive and are less likely to engage in unhealthy

and hazardous behaviors. These researchers specifically indicated that adolescent youth who are physically active on a regular basis are more resilient, perform well in academics, and have better social interaction and integration skills. In addition, as research evidence has suggested, physical activity habits that appear early in life are likely to persist into adulthood. The aforementioned confirm that childhood and adolescence stages remain critical times to develop and increase participation in physical activity (Marcus and Forsyth 2003). Although minimal research has been conducted on physical activity lifestyles among adolescent immigrant youth, behavioral research indicates that physical activity lifestyles can be changed, effectively, if strategies and interventions are based on needs assessments (Lox, Martin, and Petruzzello 2010; Marcus and Forsyth 2003; Fahey, Instel, and Roth 2002). They point out that an understanding of the existing barriers helps to inform and increase motivation in physical activity and exercise. Morse (2005) also indicated that after-school and non-school hour’s activities are essential and pivotal times to increase participation in physical activity.

The growing concern on the consequences of increased physical

inactivity demonstrate urgency for the need to increase the rate of participation in physical activity, especially among adolescent immigrant youth because of the growing concern over the consequences of increasing physical inactivity (Healthy People 2010), and because it is a valuable tool for preventing youth-related problems (Hellison et al. 2000). It is also clear that, although several studies have examined the physical activity patterns of adolescent, immigrant Hispanic youth and their determinants (Gordon-Larsen et al. 2003), no study has focused on the newly arrived, adolescent, African immigrant youth. On the contrary, participation in sports and recreational physical activity remain popular among most African immigrant and refugee youth in all African countries. Most youth grew up in environments where physical activity was naturally woven into the structure of their daily lives, unlike in America. In an attempt to understand the causes of the drastic reduction in participation, this case study utilized a modified photovoice methodology to examine the factors that have contributed to the decline in sports and recreational, physical activity participation among the newly arrived, African immigrant youth.

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