Women moving forward in pictures: using digital photographs to explore postpartum women's physical activity experiences

While much research sees physical activity as an intervention for the postpartum body, there is limited literature understanding how postpartum physical activity affects women's mental health and physical well-being. Unpacking how physical activity affects postpartum women holistically is critical because of the negative physical and mental health consequences accompanying the postpartum period. Thus, the purpose of this study was to use digital photographs to explore women's experiences engaging in physical activity during the first-year postpartum. Auto-photography was used as it allowed postpartum women to share a photograph illustrating their physical activity experiences. This method allowed for comprehension regarding how participants believed physical activity impacted their mental health and physical well-being. Fifty women (Mage = 31.82 years;Mage of infant = 6.22 months) submitted a photo with a short text description explaining the photo context and what it represented. A reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the photos through a critical feminist lens. Study findings were organised into three themes. First, postpartum women engaging in physical activity experienced feelings of empowerment that helped heal the body and mind while reconnecting with their athletic identities. Second, doing so meant adapting their physical activity to motherhood or around motherhood. Third, postpartum women navigated many obstacles, including the COVID-19 pandemic, weather, and finding activewear that fit their changing bodies. Insights into these experiences may inform health promoters, healthcare professionals, recreation leaders, and women's support networks to understand their needs when engaging in physical activity during the postpartum period. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Current state and future directions for youth sport evaluation practices: an empirical study

Rationale: : The study purpose was to understand the current state and future directions of evaluation within the youth-serving sport sector, given the changing circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: : Using an exploratory approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 stakeholders who provide or support sport-based youth programming across community to national levels in the Canadian sport context. Findings: : Analyses revealed five themes related to evaluation practices before and amid the pandemic. First, an overview of the state of evaluation in the sport sector was provided. The three subsequent themes outlined how organizations pivoted their evaluation priorities and practices throughout the pandemic in planning, implementation, and dissemination. The final theme provides stakeholders' reflections on how to strengthen evaluation practices in the sport sector moving forward. Practical implications: : Findings are important for highlighting where the field of youth sport is moving toward evaluation and capacity gaps that remain. This research has and will continue to inform future knowledge mobilization and capacity-building opportunities of evaluation best practices. Research contributions: : This research advances the science of program evaluation by being the first to offer sport-specific perspectives on facilitators and barriers to evaluation both generally and during unprecedented times (e.g. global pandemic). © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The dual pandemic: COVID-19, systemic racism, and college student-athletic mental health

The dual pandemic of 2020–COVID-19 and systemic racism–continues to reshape society. The current study examines how this dual pandemic contributes to the psychological distress of college student-athletes, with attention to college student-athletes who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of colour (BIPOC). A total of 222 student-athletes from nine universities completed the online survey. Student-athletes reported COVID-19 had a moderate impact on daily life. The direct effect of COVID-19 on psychological distress was found to be positive and significant but did not differ for BIPOC and White participants. Additionally, nearly all BIPOC student-athletes reported experiencing systemic racism;yet the level of systemic racism did not predict psychological distress. Findings provide insight related to the importance of mental health among college student-athletes. © 2022 International Society of Sport Psychology.

Engaging students in an ocean data analysis based Virtual REU

In the summer of 2020, many Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs around the country were forced to cancel their on-site programs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the midst of this crisis, the OOI Ocean Data Labs project at Rutgers University was asked to develop an alternative 'virtual REU, ' relying on our existing network of faculty and virtual community professional development experience. In the end, 15 faculty members were recruited to support 16 undergraduate students, as part of a combined program with Rutgers Research Internship in Ocean Sciences (RIOS). With only a month of planning, the Data Labs-RIOS team put together an 8-week research experience for students, including a 2-week professional development, and a 6-week research project, where students worked virtually with a faculty mentor, in keeping with typical REU summer programs. In this paper, we review the elements of the virtual program enacted in 2020, and how the various components were scaffolded to provide a coherent and positive research experience for students. The program produced a number of positive components worthy of consideration for future virtual REU or other internship programs. Virtual or hybrid programs might be a suitable alternative for nontraditional students or others who cannot participate in traditional programs, but would still benefit from the opportunity to engage in research. © 2021 MTS.

The dual pandemic: COVID-19, systemic racism, and college student-athletic mental health

The dual pandemic of 2020 - COVID-19 and systemic racism - continues to reshape society. The current study examines how this dual pandemic contributes to the psychological distress of college student-athletes, with attention to college student-athletes who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of colour (BIPOC). A total of 222 student-athletes from nine universities completed the online survey. Student-athletes reported COVID-19 had a moderate impact on daily life. The direct effect of COVID-19 on psychological distress was found to be positive and significant but did riot differ for BIPOC and White participants. Additionally, nearly all BIPOC student-athletes reported experiencing systemic racism;yet the level of systemic racism did not predict psychological distress. Findings provide insight related to the importance of mental health among college student-athletes.