A beneficial overview of the extensive literature on youth physical activity

Andreas Fröberg
Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg

In the Handbook of Youth Physical Activity (Routledge), the editors Brusseau, Fairclough, and Lubans have gathered over 100 prominent researchers and practitioners to – for this first time in a book format – overview the extensive literature on youth physical activity. The comprehensive book that was originally published in 2020 spans over 794 pages, and may perhaps best be described as a tome, an old term used to indicate a substantial scholarly book.

The book is divided into nine parts and 38 chapters that explore the multifaceted landscape of youth physical activity research from theoretical, conceptual, and empirical approaches. From a public health perspective, the overview of youth physical activity is accomplished with well-accompanied chapters covering conceptualisation, surveillance, recommendations, benefits, associated factors, measurements, fitness and motor skill assessment, interventions, and motor skill development, exercise, and organised sport. The authors have limited the scope to those aged 3-17 years, yet some chapters include research related to infants and toddlers, such as in relation to physical activity recommendations.

The book not only outlines the current state of the art but also accounts for existing challenges and limitations within each field of youth physical activity that it explores. Despite the challenging task of comprehensively and with nuance overview a particular field, each chapter offer a balanced presentation that includes both breadth and depth. Although there is some overlap of information across chapters, the authors successfully manage to maintain focus on their respective fields.

Since the scope of the book is comprehensive, I believe that each of the 38 chapters may best be explored individually. In the following, however, I attempt to provide an overview of the structure of the book by outlining the focus in each of the nine parts.

Despite the challenging task of comprehensively and with nuance overview a particular field, each chapter offer a balanced presentation that includes both breadth and depth.

In Part 1, the authors offer an introduction to the field of youth physical activity. In doing so, one chapter unpacks and elaborates on physical activity domains (Chapter 1), and two chapters focus on global surveillance of physical activity, and cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness (Chapters 2-3). The introduction concludes with a chapter devoted to physical activity recommendations (Chapter 4). Together, these four chapters serve as an engaging and effective introduction to the field, particularly the first chapter by Carson and Hunter who provide an account of the complex framework of physical activity, including definition, components, and domains, as well as key terms and concepts.

Following the introduction, Part 2 focuses on benefits of youth physical activity, benefits that are explored from a holistic perspective, encompassing physiological and mental, as well as cognitive and academic benefits (Chapters 5-7). The chapters provide both breadth and depth yet are structured and presented in different ways. For example, while the presentation of physiological benefits primarily is based on specific intensities across the intensity spectrum, mental benefits are presented in terms of types of physical activities (e.g., physical education, exercise, organised sport), whereas cognitive and academic benefits are discussed in relation to acute and chronic physical activity and physical fitness, among others. In addition to the outline of specific benefits, the chapters also address potential mechanisms and moderators, as well as offer an overview of key issues and emerging issues within each respective field.

In Part 3, focus is on the wide range of factors associated with youth physical activity. Together, the four chapters (Chapters 8-11) provide a comprehensive understanding of these factors, beginning with an outline of psychological factors. The reader gains insight into several psychological theoretical frameworks commonly used within the research field, including social cognitive theory, theory of planned behavior, and self-determination theory, and how various psychological factors may predict and explain youth physical activity behaviour. The subsequent three chapters cover inter-personal and physical environmental factors, as well as school and community policies. In these chapters, the authors address the importance of significant others, such as family members, peers, teachers, and coaches, and, with a broad perspective towards natural and built environment, the importance of urban design, walking and cycling infrastructure, parks, public open space, and natural environments, among others. Together, the chapters in Part 3 are informative and engaging, and should be of interest to both researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.

Additionally, several chapters feature sections dedicated to theoretical frameworks and methodological issues, including the measurement methods (e.g., subjective or objective), used within the field.

Part 4 concerns six interesting and well compiled chapters regarding physical activity measurement (Chapters 12-17). This part begins with an introduction to the measuring of physical activity, featuring an overview of the decisions for researchers and practitioners to consider when selecting measurement. Following the introduction, individual chapters are dedicated to the commonly used measurements report-based measures, direct observations, pedometers, and accelerometers. Each of the chapters provides insights into critical issues relevant to physical activity measurement, as well as guidance on practical considerations and examples of available systems and tools for measuring various physical activity constructs. The final chapter by Clark et al. is a novel contribution and explores emerging technologies in the context of physical activity measurement, including global positioning system and Wi-Fi real-time location systems.

In Part 5, Boddy & Stratton, and Barnett et al. overview fitness and motor skill assessment in youth (Chapters 18-19). Beginning with an introduction, the chapters explore fitness and motor skill test instruments and batteries in terms of validity, reliability, and feasibility. As a valuable contribution, I appreciated reading the section where the authors discuss practical and pedagogical considerations related to fitness skill assessment, emphasizing the necessity for a clear rationale and careful considerations due to their educational nature.

Part 6 provide an introduction to interventions with three chapters focusing on design, implementation, and evaluation (Chapters 20-22). In one of these chapters (Chapter 20), Corder et al. provides a theoretically and contextually informed overview of the literature on youth physical activity intervention designs while simultaneously addressing key questions and decisions to consider during initial intervention design. From this basis, Part 7 and 8 narrows down to school-based interventions and family and community interventions. For those readers interested in school-based physical activity interventions, Part 7 feature several chapters devoted to specific domains during the school day, such as physical education-based, recess-based, and classroom-based physical activity interventions, but also multicomponent school-based physical activity interventions (Chapters 23-27). In Chapter 28, Jones et al. specifically focus on preschool and child-care physical activity interventions, a valuable addition and complement to the reaming chapters, as it contributes to a comprehensive perspective on youth school-based physical activity interventions. The final chapter (Chapter 29) deals with school-based physical activity for children with disabilities.

Furthermore, Part 8 features several engaging chapters with focus on youth physical activity intervention in the context of family and community (Chapters 30-35). At first glance, the chapters may appear rather diverse with some contributions focusing on the role of parents and fathers in promoting youth physical activity, while other focus on before- and after-school interventions, summertime interventions, active transportation, and the role of technology in youth physical activity interventions. Despite addressing diverse interventional approaches, each chapter contributes to an overarching synthesis that is well-integrated into the context of the book. Collectively, these chapters offer valuable insights into specific strategies aimed at fostering youth physical activity within the context of family and community.

Finally, Part 9 places focus on fundamental movement skill interventions, exercise, and the importance of organised sport participation for youth physical activity (Chapters 36-38). The three chapters provide updated overviews that should be of interest to many readers. For example, the chapter by Smith et al. provide a detailed account of factors to consider in preparing and performing different types of exercise regimes, including aerobic training (moderate intensity continuous training, and high intensity interval training) and resistance training, with a discussion regarding appropriate ways to prescribe training in terms of frequency, duration, intensity, volume, and more. Flexibility training with common stretching techniques and movement forms is also covered as part of the chapter.

Overall, each chapter in the book is well-organised, engaging, and accessible. I appreciated that the chapters had a pedagogical approach which facilitate comprehensibility. For example, most chapters feature summaries of key-points addressed and provide insights into key issues and emerging issues within each field. Particularly valuable and useful are the sections that offer practical recommendations for researchers or practitioners, often both. Additionally, several chapters feature sections dedicated to theoretical frameworks and methodological issues, including the measurement methods (e.g., subjective or objective), used within the field. These recurrent features allow the reader to critically evaluate the current state within each respective field. In many chapters, the available tables and figures are valuable additions to the remaining text and provide information that improves clarity and conciseness. Furthermore, the bibliography for each chapter is updated and extensive, with numerous references available for those who wish to delve deeper into the literature on youth physical activity.

Since the book is divided into nine parts with distinct focuses, an introduction to each part, situating the field within a broader context, would have served as a useful guide for the reader. Perhaps this could be considered for future revisions. Despite the comprehensive scope, I furthermore believe that a beneficial addition to the book would be a chapter about physical literacy, i.e., the motivation, confidence, competence, and knowledge required to engage in physical activity across the lifespan. The book features several contributions that explore issues closely related to physical literacy, such as physical education-based interventions, fitness and motor competence assessment, and fundamental movement skill interventions, yet physical literacy is mentioned marginally throughout the book, often in passing.

To conclude, the Handbook of Youth Physical Activity provides an account of the research field of youth physical activity from a holistic perspective, offering both breadth and depth. The book constitutes a well-founded basis for discussions regarding youth physical activity among researchers and other stakeholders. With well-organised chapters, including sections offering summaries of key-points addressed, key-issues and emerging issues within each field, as well as practical recommendations, the book can serve as a crucial resource in higher education. In my opinion, the book should be a staple in the bookshelves of all students, researchers, and practitioners who work in the field of youth physical activity.

Copyright © Andreas Fröberg 2024