Reduced levels of physical activity (PA), motor competence and fitness are currently a serious public health problem. Factors such as youth violence, access to technologies and lack of appropriate public spaces have reduced the opportunities for PA and led people to adopt a sedentary behavior, particularly in leisure options involving screen activities (tablets, smartphones, computers, video games, television).
This trend further restricts motor development and can generate a negative behavioral cycle, increasing the likelihood of physical inactivity and the emergence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, in addition to potential impairments to psychosocial development. Knowledge of the influences in the sociocultural context is limited, requiring research into the specific reality of a given population.
It is well-known that physical activity, motor competence and fitness are associated with improvements in physical and mental health. However, the longitudinal and causal associations between these variables are currently lacking. Public policies and intervention programs aimed at increasing physical activity, motor competence and fitness may be promising options to worldwide health promotion, but it is necessary to have a better understanding of the influences of sociocultural contexts and circumstances of specific populations. The sociocultural context may play a moderating role that should be controlled in research applied to public health.
In this Research Topic, we are looking for submissions dealing with physical activity, motor competence and/or health related fitness, covering the whole spectrum of physical activity (sedentary behavior, light, moderate and vigorous physical activity), motor competence (ability to perform motor skills with adequate proficiency and coordination) and fitness (weight status, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness), considering the mutual influences between physiological/psychological development and sociocultural factors associated with human development such as (but not limited to) social vulnerability, school engagement, living conditions and leisure options. The following types of manuscripts are recommended, but not limited to:
- Original Research
- Systematic Review
- Hypothesis and Theory
- Clinical Trial
- Conceptual Analysis
- Study Protocol
Reduced levels of physical activity (PA), motor competence and fitness are currently a serious public health problem. Factors such as youth violence, access to technologies and lack of appropriate public spaces have reduced the opportunities for PA and led people to adopt a sedentary behavior, particularly in leisure options involving screen activities (tablets, smartphones, computers, video games, television).
This trend further restricts motor development and can generate a negative behavioral cycle, increasing the likelihood of physical inactivity and the emergence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, in addition to potential impairments to psychosocial development. Knowledge of the influences in the sociocultural context is limited, requiring research into the specific reality of a given population.
It is well-known that physical activity, motor competence and fitness are associated with improvements in physical and mental health. However, the longitudinal and causal associations between these variables are currently lacking. Public policies and intervention programs aimed at increasing physical activity, motor competence and fitness may be promising options to worldwide health promotion, but it is necessary to have a better understanding of the influences of sociocultural contexts and circumstances of specific populations. The sociocultural context may play a moderating role that should be controlled in research applied to public health.
In this Research Topic, we are looking for submissions dealing with physical activity, motor competence and/or health related fitness, covering the whole spectrum of physical activity (sedentary behavior, light, moderate and vigorous physical activity), motor competence (ability to perform motor skills with adequate proficiency and coordination) and fitness (weight status, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness), considering the mutual influences between physiological/psychological development and sociocultural factors associated with human development such as (but not limited to) social vulnerability, school engagement, living conditions and leisure options. The following types of manuscripts are recommended, but not limited to:
- Original Research
- Systematic Review
- Hypothesis and Theory
- Clinical Trial
- Conceptual Analysis
- Study Protocol
