M.A. Applied Health Sciences
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10464/2734
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Item Open Access The Experience of Iranian Women Inter-University Athletes with a Focus on Gender in SportKohandel, Kiana; Applied Health Sciences ProgramThis research explores the experiences of Iranian women athletes in inter-university sports, with a particular focus on gender. Utilizing a descriptive, narratively informed approach and the concept of the gender regime, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the gendered experiences of these athletes. The research addresses two primary questions: (1) What are the lived experiences of Iranian women athletes in inter-university sport? and (2) How do these athletes explore and navigate barriers, supports, and points of resistance in their sporting lives? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six current women student-athletes from Azad University, and thematic, narrative-informed analysis was used to analyze the data. This method enabled the identification of key themes within and across the participants' stories, highlighting their unique challenges and achievements. The study identified three major themes: Barriers, Norms, and Discrepancies; Resistance, Solidarity, and Support; and Personal Growth and Development. These themes reflect the experiences of Iranian women athletes in university sports, revealing the challenges they face due to inadequate facilities, cultural restrictions, and gender inequality, their acts of defiance and support systems that empower them, and the personal growth that arises from navigating these obstacles. Together, these themes provide a clear picture of the many struggles and successes of women athletes in a sports environment shaped by gender. Despite facing significant barriers, these athletes demonstrate resilience and adaptability, leveraging support networks and personal determination to pursue their athletic goals. The findings emphasize the importance of supportive environments and inclusive policies in promoting gender equity in sports. This research contributes to the broader discourse on gender and sport by providing valuable insights into the specific cultural and contextual factors affecting women athletes in Iran. It underscores the need for further comparative studies in different Muslim-majority countries to explore how varying cultural contexts influence women's experiences in sports. By addressing the unique challenges faced by women athletes in different regions, future research can inform policies and practices that enhance gender equity in sports globally.Item Open Access Physically Active Leisure with (and Beyond) Limits: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Mothers of Autistic ChildrenNaamneh Yassin, Halla Jr; Applied Health Sciences ProgramMothers of autistic children have been shown to be more vulnerable to high levels of stress, poor health outcomes, and reduced engagement in leisure, as compared to fathers of autistic children or to parents of neurotypical children. While research has demonstrated the contribution of physically active leisure (PAL) to supporting well-being, including that of mothers, little is known about the experiences of mothers of autistic children. The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experiences of mothers of autistic children who engage in PAL to understand its meaning in their lives and how these experiences impact their well-being. This was a qualitative study that included 10 mothers (Mage = 39.3 years) who had one or more autistic children (Mage = 9.3 years). Each mother took photographs that reflected her experiences engaging in PAL (e.g., how they engage in PAL, how PAL affects them, and the meaning of these experiences to them), and participated in a one-on-one interview to discuss these photographs and broader experiences of PAL. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis techniques. Two main themes were developed from the data that collectively capture the lived experiences of participants engaging in PAL. The first theme demonstrates how domestic commitments hinder mothers’ engagement in PAL, and how these are exacerbated by additional challenges related to the specific needs of autistic children (e.g. limited independence, unmet educational and health service needs). The second theme illustrates the ways in which engagement in PAL was empowering for mothers and supported their well-being. Specifically, engaging in PAL helped mothers cope with their life challenges and provided an opportunity for them to confront gender norms associated with womanhood and motherhood, either by resisting or reproducing these norms. This research has implications for informing health and leisure professionals and researchers and providing direction for the development of interventions and strategies for enhancing engagement in PAL for mothers of autistic children and improving their well-being.Item Embargo Exploring Youth Experiences in Nature Through a Health Equity Lens: A Qualitative StudySmoke, Alison; Applied Health Sciences ProgramResearch demonstrates that for youth, connections to nature are protective health assets and that socio-economic status impacts health outcomes and opportunities. Less is known about how the intersection of youth connections to nature and socio-economic status shape health experiences and findings that do exist are mixed. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand how youth in the Niagara Region of Canada experience nature, with attention to their socio-economic status. Eight youth between the ages of 11 and 15 were recruited from community organizations and contacts at Brock University and participated in a semi-structured interview. These youth all self-identified as having positive experiences in nature as part of the eligibility requirements for the study. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two themes were identified from the results 1) connections between nature and participants were strong, regardless of a participant’s socio-economic circumstances and 2) experiences in nature appear to be influenced by SES in terms of the ways youth were able to connect with nature through things like resources and access. Findings are discussed through the lens of the Central Capabilities Approach. A strengths-based approach guided this study.Item Open Access Enabling the uptake of pedagogical innovations in physical education: The role of social mediaDingwall, Matthew; Applied Health Sciences ProgramDespite the development of many promising innovations in physical education (PE), their lack of sustained use by teachers often stems from inadequate access to effective professional development (PD). Social media has the potential to serve as a platform for accessible, self-driven PD, supporting teachers’ ongoing learning about pedagogical innovations. The purpose of this research is to investigate the role that social media has played in enabling teachers’ uptake and sustained use of the pedagogical innovation Meaningful PE. The research is grounded in Wenger's (1998) social learning theory, which positions learning as a social process occurring through active engagement and participation within a Community of Practice (CoP). Qualitative data were gathered from six teachers through individual semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that social media served as a catalyst for continuous learning and reflection among PE teachers, and facilitated their uptake of Meaningful PE. The presence of experts and peers on social media platforms provided a dynamic environment for professional learning, growth, collaboration, and innovation. The formation of a CoP consisting of researchers, practitioners, and teachers on social media significantly influenced the teachers’ sustained implementation of Meaningful PE. By engaging in discussions, sharing experiences, and collaborating online, teachers were able to maintain their implementation of Meaningful PE. This collaborative, reflective, and sustainable environment aligns with the essential characteristics of effective PD, recognizing teachers as active participants within a supportive social context. Overall, this research provides evidence of the role that social media can play in supporting teachers’ uptake and sustained implementation of pedagogical innovations. Implications are considered for PD programs and their providers.Item Embargo Longitudinal Effects of Sex-Based Shoe Design on the Biomechanics of Basketball Specific MovementsKritzer, Tamar Dora; Tokuno, Craig; Holmes, Michael; Applied Health Sciences ProgramBasketball's high-intensity, multi-directional nature results in twice as many lower extremity (LE) injuries in females compared to males due to anthropometric and movement differences. Rising popularity of women's basketball has led to new designs of shoes specifically for females, though the benefits are yet to be proven. Additionally, shoe degradation has been linked to altered LE biomechanics and reduced cushioning. This study aimed to quantify biomechanical demands of basketball movements in female athletes wearing female-designed (FS) versus unisex-designed (US) basketball shoes. Twenty female basketball players performed four common maneuvers—cuts, jumps (CMJ), jogs, and sprints—in both shoe types across two sessions separated by six weeks. Participants wore the shoes for about one hour, three times per week between sessions. Ground reaction forces (GRFs) and tibial shock (TS) were measured using an embedded force plate and accelerometer, respectively. Participants provided subjective ankle stability (PAS) ratings via a 4-point Likert scale. Shoe material hardness testing was conducted via Shore-A durometer. Initial results showed increased TS and anterior-posterior GRFs with higher PAS during cutting in the FS compared to the US shoe. Long-term usage of both shoes resulted in increased TS but decreased take-off velocity during CMJs, indicating a possible decline in performance and increased LE injury risk. Future developers of FS shoes should modify the shock absorption technology to increase force dissemination and mitigate TS with the increased feeling of stability, allowing athletes to put in full effort without worry. All basketball shoe developers should improve longevity of the insoles. This study contributes to limited research on female basketball biomechanics, suggesting that improved footwear design for females may minimize injuries and enhance performance.Item Open Access Responding to Mental Health Challenges in an Ontario University Athletic Department: An Institutional AnalysisRomano, Nicholas; Applied Health Sciences ProgramIt has been well-documented that student-athletes experience additional mental health challenges compared to their non-athlete peers. Universities can play an integral role in mitigating these challenges. Using an Institutional Ethnographic (IE) approach, this study examines an Ontario university athletic department’s institutional practices and responses to student-athlete mental health. Specifically, this study elucidates the institutional organization and structure of the athletic department and university responses to student-athlete mental health challenges. By adopting the perspective of a student-athlete, difficulties that the student-athlete experiences when pursuing help for their mental health challenge are identified. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven institutional workers and one student-athlete along with the analysis of institutional texts present in the process of help-seeking. The data demonstrated the process of a student-athlete navigating a triage model of mental health care - highlighting the influencing ruling and social relations, a highly team dependent and collaborative process, varying levels of responsibility for institutional workers, and a lack of funding and staffing. There was also an emphasis placed on the university being a leader in mental health, often leading institutional workers and student-athletes to have certain expectations regarding the mental health services offered. The thesis concludes with a discussion of strategies to reform the process of student-athletes receiving help for their mental health challenges, which include: 1) establishing clearer responsibilities for workers’ roles and more straightforward paths for student-athletes to navigate, 2) employing a mental health professional for athletes, who is available and accessible for student-athletes to receive timely care, and who could help to eliminate the need for a complicated and inconsistent triage system, 3) proactive screening for mental health challenges with student-athletes rather than the use of a reactive model, 4) integration of a training readiness survey to help integrated support teams monitor and identify the wellbeing of student-athletes, 5) required training for all coaches and athletics office staff related to mental health first aid, 6) better, more realistic communication about the university’s standing as a leader in mental health, and 7) overall better integration of mental health services into athletics.Item Open Access Golf Fandom since the Creation of LIV Golf and Announced Merger with the PGA TourDick, Joseph; Applied Health Sciences ProgramAccording to Davis et al. (2023), golf fans needed to be researched to understand the impact of LIV Golf’s creation and the announced merger between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour. As a result, the purpose of the research was to understand how PGA Tour fans were influenced by the creation of LIV Golf and the announced merger with the PGA Tour. To fulfill this purpose, an interpretive approach to semi-structured interviews was undertaken. Ultimately, 20 interviews were conducted with adult highly identified fans of the PGA Tour, in which 19 qualified for analysis. With this open-ended approach, greater complexity and nuance of factors influencing fandom can be captured. Ultimately, the findings were situated within literature around the sacred and profane (Belk et al. 1989; Schindler & Minton, 2022) and communitas (Turner, 1969). These theories helped to explain how golf was formed and grew as a social group through participation first, indoctrinating those within the group to perform certain behaviours. As the norms surrounding participation transferred to fandom through contagion (Belk et al., 1989), fans were plotted into the Sacred Conditions of Sport, a conceptual model to illustrate a group’s conception of communitas and structure. Before LIV’s creation, most fans desired for strict behaviours associated with normative communitas and the structure as other-worldly, making the group’s norms collectively moral. Through LIV Golf and the announced merger, fans often shifted their perspective and saw the group as a manufactured structure and, therefore, unimportant to uphold beyond personal preference. Fans also often tended to desire more lenient behaviours associated with ideological communitas after LIV and the announced merger. While many desired this, few transcended to view the structure of the group as other-worldly, limiting the collective morality of the lenient norms. These findings add to literature and practice around sport fans and social groups primarily through the applicability of the Sacred Conditions of Sport to conceptualize the perception of a given groups’ norms. The present research is also relevant to illustrate how professional sport may operate in the modern, commercialized world, illustrating the impacts of commercialization on sport.Item Open Access Regions and Provincial Sport Organizations in Ontario, Canada: A Case StudyLosardo, Dante; Applied Health Sciences ProgramCanada is a large country with a complex political landscape that has evolved over time. Regionalism has been vital in shaping Canada's political and economic development since its inception. Although the implications of regionalism are widely discussed in fields such as economic geography and rural development, little discussion of regions and regionalism (in Canada or abroad) has taken place related to sport policy and management. To date, much of the work in sport management in Canada has been focused on sport at either the national, or community level. As a result of this, much of the established literature to date does not touch upon provincial sport organizations (PSOs), particularly in relation to the understanding of regions and the spaces that fundamentally constitute these organizations. To address this gap, I analyzed how regions are understood and managed by actors within the field. The purpose of this study was to investigate the theoretical and practical implications of regions within sport governance in Ontario, Canada. This research answers the following key questions: 1) how do PSO-affiliated actors understand and construct regions? and 2) how do institutional pressures impact the management of regions within PSOs in Ontario? To answer these questions, an instrumental case study methodology was used to explore these questions within the province of Ontario. Data were collected through document analysis of organizational strategic plans and semi-structured interviews with decision-makers within PSOs. Thematic analysis (TA) was utilized in the analysis of data for this thesis. The dual frameworks of institutional theory and theories of space were utilized as the theoretical backdrop for analysis. Through analysis, three themes were identified in relation to how PSO-affiliated actors understand and construct regions: Recognition of the Province as a Region; Regions are Informally Constructed; and Regions are Formally Structured. This research highlights that regions are understood and managed differently by actors within PSOs, and that institutional pressures (coercive, normative, mimetic) impact organizations differently and ultimately contribute to this understanding and management. This work contributes to the sport management literature through an exploration of how space is constructed, understood, and managed by actors within an institutionalized environment.Item Open Access Offside: An International Comparison of Group Sexual Assault in Competitive Young Men’s Ice HockeyMansfield, Mike; Applied Health Sciences ProgramAthlete-perpetrated sexual violence within hockey has historically been concealed and rarely acknowledged within academic literature and public discourse in Canada and internationally. To analyze group-sexual assault cases in young men’s hockey in Canada and the United States at the high-school, intercollegiate, and junior level, this study utilized an unobtrusive case-study approach, revealing the relative prevalence in which group sexual assaults occur, the common characteristics of these cases, and how institutions such as hockey organizations and the criminal justice system have responded to this form of gender-based violence. Two primary sources of unobtrusive data were used within this study, including: 1) documentation accessed through the online legal document repositories vLex, CanLii, and WorldLii, and 2) documentation accessed through online media article archives Access Word News, Google News, and Canadian Newsstream. In total, 30 cases, including 20 in Canada and 10 in the United States, were analyzed. Through the analysis of 30 cases of group sexual assault, there were seven key findings, including: 1) accused players are rarely held accountable, 2) Canadian Junior hockey players are disproportionately represented in reports of athlete-perpetrated group sexual assault, 3) accused players often receive support from their coaches, team management, and the community, while victims often do not, 4) Canadian and American hockey organizations respond comparatively differently when players are accused of sexual assault, 5) disciplinary responses were lower among Canadian Junior hockey cases, compared to American cases, 6) in many cases, players who faced charges of sexual assault could advance their careers to higher professional playing levels (such as the National Hockey League), and 7) with increased media attention, public outcry, and disciplinary responses more recently, a significant shift in tolerance and responses to these incidents has occurred over time.Item Open Access The Acculturation Experiences of Newcomer Healthcare Workers in Rural Canada: A Case StudyUgwu, Vivien; Applied Health Sciences ProgramThe acculturation experiences of newcomer healthcare workers in rural Canada are complex and influenced by individual, community, and systemic factors. My study explored how these workers navigated acculturation within rural Canadian communities and workplaces, using Berry's model of acculturation as a framework. I examined the strategies of integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization, shaped by the rural context. I employed a qualitative case study methodology, focusing on a specific rural municipality in Canada. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with newcomer healthcare workers, community members, and coworkers from a healthcare facility. Reflexive thematic analysis facilitated an in-depth exploration of participants' lived experiences, and the identification of key themes related to their acculturation process. My findings revealed that the rural context presented unique challenges and opportunities. Challenges included navigating infrastructural barriers like inadequate transportation and housing, coping with work-related stress, and managing cultural differences in the workplace. Conversely, strong community support systems and inclusive workplace policies positively impacted adaptation. I highlighted the importance of community engagement, social interaction, and the visible contributions of newcomers in fostering a sense of belonging. Moreover, my research emphasized the dual nature of acculturation, where both newcomers and host communities engaged in mutual adaptation. Community-driven initiatives, informal social networks, and supportive relationships with colleagues were crucial in helping newcomers feel welcomed and valued. However, areas for improvement were identified, such as enhancing rural infrastructure and providing targeted support to address acculturative stress. My study contributes to the academic discourse on acculturation by providing evidence on the experiences of newcomer healthcare workers in rural settings. It highlights the need for policies fostering inclusive environments to enhance their well-being. The insights gained can inform the development of responsive support systems, programs, and policies aimed at improving the retention and integration of newcomer healthcare workers in rural Canadian communities. By addressing specific challenges and leveraging identified strengths, rural communities can better support the acculturation process and benefit from the valuable contributions of newcomer healthcare workers.Item Open Access Chinese women players’ experiences of oppression and resistance in Honor of KingsLe, Jiayi; Applied Health Sciences ProgramGuided by a Chinese intersectional feminist theory perspective, this research identifies and describes the lived experiences of women’s oppression that Chinese women have while playing HoK, the consequences of these experiences for Chinese women who play HoK, and the resistance and coping strategies they use to deal with these experiences. Women’s oppression includes the systemic and often discriminatory challenges and barriers faced by women, in this case within the esports industry and with women’s gaming identities. While esports continue to grow into a multi-billion dollar industry, issues of gender-based harassment, discrimination, and violence within the industry similarly continue to grow. Several research studies have separately examined these issues in esports, but very little research has intersectionally examined the experiences of Chinese women. The context of esport in China is of particular importance to study, not only because of the sheer size of the esport industry in China but because of the complex history of gender relations in China, with women experiencing limits to their inheritance rights, education rights, marriage freedoms, social rights, and political rights. 10 semi-structured interviews (SSIs) were conducted with women HoK players as the primary form of data collection, while unobtrusive data and autoethnographic data were used to supplement and support the interview data. All interviews were conducted in Chinese, audio-recorded, and transcribed into English. All ten participants experienced harassment and discrimination related to their gender identity. Participants in the study identified two significant consequences that result from experiences of discrimination and harassment in HoK. First, it leads to decreased participation. Second, it lowers in game performance and confidence for women. All 10 participants reported some resistance to these negative experiences. These forms of resistance and coping took many forms, such as 1) reporting, 2) blocking and muting, 3) verbal confrontations and arguments, 4) teaming up with friends, 5) gender swapping, and 6) mutual support among women players. Based on this research, seven main strategies for creating meaningful change in HoK are also proposed.Item Open Access Effects of Space Restrictions and Mouse Locations on Upper Extremity Kinematics and Muscle Activity during Computer TasksLang, Cameron; Applied Health Sciences ProgramPeople spend an average of 37.5 hours/week on their computers, totalling 1800 hours annually (Noack-Cooper, K. L. et al., 2009). Spending >4 hours daily on a computer demonstrates increased MSD risk, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (Ardahan, M., & Simsek, H., 2016; Manktelow, R. T. et al., 2004). Work-from-home scenarios can lead to make-shift workstations, with space restrictions. The purpose of this work was to quantify upper extremity muscle activity and posture during computer tasks, when people are exposed to restricted environments. 18 healthy university-aged participants (8 Male, 10 Female) were recruited. Participants were outfitted with surface electromyography on 16 muscles of the trunk/right upper extremity, and 13 reflective motion capture markers. Two mouse-based tasks were completed using AimLab: 1) a point-and-click task, and 2) a mouse tracing task. Tasks were completed in four common mouse locations in both restricted and unrestricted boundaries. Supraspinatus, upper trapezius, and middle trapezius demonstrated significant increases in muscle activity between both tasks. Right middle (SUPR: 64.1 ± 17.2 %MVE; UPTR: 3.5 ± 0.8 %MVE; MTRP: 12.9 ± 4.4 %MVE), and front keyboard (SUPR: 71.5 ± 19.6 %MVE; UPTR: 3.5 ± 0.7 %MVE; MTRP: 16.0 ± 5.3 %MVE) locations produced the greatest amount of muscle activity in both conditions. Restricted conditions across locations increased joint angles across the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. Lateral and deep mouse locations created increased shoulder extension and abduction across both conditions. Participant accuracy was greater in the restricted conditions (PC: 96 ± 5.3%; Track: 84.9 ± 10.7%) compared to unrestricted (PC: 95.4 ± 5.8%; Track: 81.4 ± 8.9%). Increases in muscle activity were found across all locations and conditions for the shoulders and upper back, with the restricted condition demonstrating the greatest increase in activity. This could suggest that increased discomfort and musculoskeletal complaints are probable when working in a restricted environment for extended periods of time. Utilizing the front edge of the desk as a mouse location decreased muscle activity, which may provide rest of relief from muscle overuse.Item Open Access Ending the cycle: Scholars' perspectives on hazing preventionLamothe, Richard; Applied Health Sciences ProgramThe purpose of this study is to synthesize the knowledge of hazing experts to explore hazing prevention techniques. Preventing hazing in sport has been studied, analyzed, and explored through various research designs centered on strategies of athlete education, cultural change, and replacement activities. However, literature has lacked a study that compares and integrates these methods within the practice of prevention. This study begins to conceptually fill that void. To critically examine, compare, and integrate hazing prevention methods, published hazing scholars were surveyed using the Delphi technique. All participants had published at least one peer-reviewed publication on hazing written in English. Using the Delphi technique, participants were surveyed three times, with each iteration being developed from the results of the previous survey. The first survey had fifteen participants, the second had fourteen, and the third had eleven. The survey responses were analyzed using thematic coding. Participating scholars provided detailed descriptions of best practices with prevention strategies centered on athlete education, cultural change, and replacement activities. Importantly, participating scholars identified that all hazing prevention methods should be implemented as much as possible as they are often connected, interrelated, and have the potential to be most effective when utilized together.Item Open Access Exploring the common practices that exist within the dynamic approach of virtual and onsite movement-based programming for young people living with autism spectrum disorder (autism)Hicks, Stephanie; Applied Health Sciences ProgramThe purpose of this study was to describe, analyze, and understand the common practices that exist within the dynamic approach of virtual and onsite programming across different organizations with a focus on movement-based programming for children and youth living with autism spectrum disorder (autism). Previous research suggested that it would be a missed opportunity for learning, development, and engagement to disregard a hybrid or virtual program delivery model. This study used public domain data sets to investigate and analyze current practices in the methods of program delivery for activity for children living with autism. The researcher examined both manifest and latent content, and discerned common practices of program delivery through application and completion of a prompt-based checklist. The findings were developed through a multi-level content analysis and contribute to insights about current and common practices relating to the impact of the hybridization of movement-based programs for children with autism. This study demonstrated that organizations are primarily transitioning back to on-site programming options as society enters the state of an endemic, and it raises concerns as to why the priority and level of virtual access has been taken away. The findings could lead to further research around program delivery practices and communication as members of the community move away from the pandemic mindset. Further research is necessary to continue investigating how hybrid program delivery should be prioritized in future years increasing pathways of participation.Item Open Access An Exploration of Canadian and Nigerian High Performance Women Wrestlers’ Authentic Leadership Development Experiences in a Male-Dominated SportAdeniyi, Aminat Oluwafunmilayo; Applied Health Sciences ProgramSport management scholars have uncovered benefits from adopting an authentic leadership style among sport coaches (Kim et al., 2020), sport administrators/athletic directors (Cotrufo, 2014), and non-profit sport organization board members (Takos et al., 2018). However, there has been no scholarly attempt to learn about the experiences of high-performance women wrestlers who might aspire to become authentic leaders. Given the ongoing disparities between men and women leaders in sport organizations, arguably more should be done to understand the experiences of (and then support) future sport leaders who are women. Thus, this research study addresses these gaps by answering the research questions: (1) What are the authentic leadership development experiences of Canadian and Nigerian high-performance women wrestlers? (2) What are the formal and informal authentic leadership development experiences of women who participate in a male-dominated sport? (3) What are the perceived strengths and weaknesses of formal and informal authentic leadership development training among Canadian and Nigerian high-performance women wrestlers? Participants (n=11) engaged in one semi-structured interview that revealed their mostly informal authentic leadership development (Luthans & Avolio, 2003) experiences as members of their respective national teams. Analysis of the transcripts (65,342 words and 188 pages) followed Braun & Clarke (2006). Findings revealed five major themes and several sub-themes. Canadian and Nigerian high-performance women wrestlers’ authentic leadership development was found to be impacted and influenced by the athletes’ background influences and parental support. Participants reported developing authentic traits (i.e., resilience, optimism, confidence, and hope) that supported their development as authentic leaders both on (and off) the mat. Participants shared their experience being bullied and body-shamed for their participation in a male-dominated sport and indicated feeling both supported by and frustrated with their national sport organization/federation.Item Open Access An Exploration of the Students’ Perspective of Alternative Environment Activities in Physical EducationKuehnen, Natasha; Applied Health Sciences ProgramAlternative Environment Activities (AEAs) are a common component of physical education curricula across Canada (Kilborn et al., 2016), and studies have demonstrated the benefit to promoting participation in AEAs, such as leading to decreased sedentary behaviour and participation in higher amounts of physical activity (Hall et al., 2022). Yet, to date, there is minimal research exploring the role of AEAs in PE programs and all of it has focused on teachers’ perceptions and behaviours related to inclusion of AEAs in physical education programs (e.g., Hall et al., 2020; Robinson et al., 2021). Consequently, there is a clear need to examine AEAs in physical education from the students’ perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine students’ perceptions regarding their experiences participating in AEAs as part of their school-based physical education. Participants were a convenience sample of first year Brock University students who indicated they had participated in AEAs as part of their school-based physical education experiences. Following a basic qualitative methodology (Merriam, 2009), thirteen one-on-one semi-structured interviews were utilized to explore the participants’ experiences in AEAs during their elementary and secondary school physical education. The data was examined through a thematic analysis (Clarke & Braun, 2016), with verbatim transcripts analyzed by two researchers to eliminate bias and ensure trustworthiness (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Findings demonstrated that participants had an overall positive response to the incorporation of AEAs within physical education and saw value in including AEAs as part of a physical education program. Participants indicated that AEAs were a positive part of their physical education experiences because AEAs were seen as fun and provided variety. The results also demonstrated there were no dominant specific AEAs that participants preferred. However, participants did indicate having a preference for AEAs that were done outside in natural settings and that allowed them to escape the gymnasium setting for physical education classes. Participants offered suggestions to better include AEAs in physical education such as using small scale AEAs more frequently and increased funding for AEAs. This research provides initial insight into students’ perceptions regarding AEAs being incorporated into school-based physical education programs.Item Open Access Indigenous Students' Experiences in Physical Education: A Scoping ReviewGiles, Brittany; Applied Health Sciences ProgramPositive experiences in Physical Education (PE) throughout one’s childhood encourages life-long interest and participation in exercise and movement, as well as increased mental and physical well-being (Akbar & Tsuji, 2020). However, for many Indigenous students’ this is not the case as these individuals experience much negativity, the most prominent one being racism (McHugh et al., 2019). Therefore, my study aimed to gain a better understanding of Indigenous students’ prior experiences in public school PE across Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. A scoping review was conducted guided by Arksey & O’Malley’s (2005) framework, while using a decolonial lens following Linda Tuhiwai Smith (2021). Data collection started on May 12th, 2023 and finished on August 19th, 2023. The search strategy identified 41 pieces of literature, after the title, abstract, and full-text was reviewed. And, upon more in-depth analysis a final list of 15 pieces of literature were identified that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. A descriptive analysis followed by a thematic analysis were conducted examining all 15 pieces of literature. The descriptive analysis identified key descriptors from each piece of literature (i.e., document name, author, country where data was collected, etc.). Some examples of major findings included, 93% of the pieces of literature focused only on high school students and 60% of the pieces of literature were published pre-2012 and none since 2018. Based on the Thematic analysis two overarching themes were identified: (1) Experiencing a cultural disconnect in the PE curriculum and the content being taught; and (2) Connections between Students’ and the PE Environment. The results of this study demonstrate that although research presently exists with regards to Indigenous students’ sharing their experiences in PE, there is still a need for considerably more work specifically focused on this topic. Sharing Indigenous students’ experiences in PE may resonate with Indigenous researchers, scholars, teachers and beyond these groups as well. What this research offers is a pathway for future research with Indigenous and minority communities to provide a better understanding of the student experience in PE for current and future educators and administrators.Item Open Access Entering the Nursing Workforce during a Pandemic: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) StudyMoretti, Rosemarie; Applied Health Sciences ProgramBackground: In March of 2020, COVID-19 was declared to be a worldwide pandemic (WHO, 2022a). Since the pandemic was declared, various resources worldwide have been exhausted to accommodate the needs of the public; nurses have been significantly impacted by COVID. Although there is an overwhelming need for nurses to support the healthcare sector, there remains a critical worldwide shortage of nurses, including Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). In the next decade, there will be a vacancy of 13 million nurses worldwide (Buchan et al., 2022). Novice nurses are graduating into a global pandemic that has exacerbated existing nursing shortage problems, unsafe patient ratios, increasing nursing vacancies, and severe burnout. Little is known about the lived experience of novice nurses working in this pandemic context. Research Question: What is the experience of novice nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario? Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Sample: 6 registered nurses were recruited who had graduated from a BScN program from 2019 to the present. The mean age was 25 years and the average number of years practicing nursing was 2.92 years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed. The overarching theme, COVID-19 as a catalyst was generated. Within this theme, three subthemes emerged: burnout, moral injury, and lack of nursing support. Conclusions: Burnout and lack of nursing support are concepts that have corroborated and added to pre-existing literature. Knowledge gleaned from this study has brought attention to moral injury and its negative psychological impact on novice nurses. Future research should focus on incidence and prevalence of moral injury in nurses in all areas of practice and education. Further, education and support of nurses should consider the development of coping skills that incorporate the tools of moral courage and moral resilience for all levels of nursing leadership.Item Open Access More than a Game: Understanding Gendered Discourse in Online Video Game CommunitiesDeclercq, Lindee; Applied Health Sciences ProgramUsing discourse analysis guided by Connell’s Relational Gender Theory and the concept of Hegemonic Masculinity, this research focused on the gendered discourse of online communities for the video game “Overwatch”. The overall aim of this study was to explore the discourse about gender in online communities dedicated to gaming to see how gender norms are reproduced, challenged, or both. Seeking answers to two research questions, 1), How does discourse about gender develop from images and text in conversations within digital communities?, 2), What forms does gendered discourse take in the images and text users post to their individual blogs?, data in the form of text and image social media posts were collected from one focus community on Reddit and one focus community on Tumblr over a three-month period. Two main themes were identified on Reddit: Promotion of Men as Gamers and Traditional Gaming Behaviours. These themes provided evidence of gender norms being reproduced, with men being seen as the superior gender in gaming spaces maintaining the belief that gaming is an activity reserved for men and boys. Two main themes were also identified on Tumblr: Critiquing the Heroes and Taking Pride in the Game. These themes demonstrated gender norms are being challenged in the selected community on Tumblr. A prominent LGBTQ+ community largely rejected heteronormativity as users critiqued the design of the game’s characters. Overall, the findings suggest there is potential to disrupt the established gender hierarchy in gaming that assumes men are superior to every other gender, but there is still a long way to go before this change becomes widespread.Item Open Access Exploring the COVID-19 Impact and Process of Value Change Towards Work and Leisure Among Millennials: "What Would I Rather Have: A Topped-Up RRSP or Stories of a Month Doing My Dive Master?"Coyle, Gerry; Applied Health Sciences ProgramThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted norms and routines such as employment status, office space, and access to recreational services and programming. Values are defined as a broad set of goals that influence behaviours, perceptions, and attitudes. Value change is thought to occur in the wake of significant lifestyle disruption, such as marriage, parenthood, or the COVID-19 pandemic. Research on value change is limited. Millennials (1981 – 1996) currently make up 33.2% of the Canadian workforce. Therefore, significant change in values could hold wider ramifications on the domains of work and leisure. This research asked two questions: (1) In what way are Millennial males expressing their new values towards work and leisure? And (2) What did the process of value change look like in young male Millennials? This research is guided by a grounded theory approach, using intensive interview techniques to gather rich, experience-driven data from seven young (1989 – 1996) millennial males living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Data was analysed through an initial then axial coding process. A theory on the process of change was determined through the coding process and revealed that participants navigated through five stages: lifestyle disruption occurred to physical and psychological space. Participants became aware of their dissatisfaction, through career choice, routines, and usage of leisure time. Participants took action to address areas of dissatisfaction through career change and implementing boundaries. Participants then proceeded with a maintenance period of tinkering and increasing flexibility to seek the highest form of value-expressive behaviour. Lastly, participants sought validation from self and from others. Keywords: COVID-19, Work, Values, Millennials, Grounded Theory