October 30, 2018 Social Quality Theory to Physical Activity
The premise of the Social Quality Theory as a conceptual framework for individuals
and neighbourhood-level influences on health is that certain social conditions are
necessary for social participation to enhance health and well-being. Social Quality suggests that neighbourhoods’ matter for health because they provide the local social conditions that enable people to see themselves as social beings and experience well-being. (Holman et al., 2018).
Four factors govern the extent and quality of social participation:
· Socio-economic Security
· Social Cohesion
· Social Inclusion
· Social Empowerment
Social quality is concerned with risk factors for social participation and realisation which in turn are assumed to influence health and well-being (Holman et al., 2018).
Income inequality wears down social cohesion as well as lessons socioeconomic security, disconnects relations/institutions and interferes to the degree that institutions/relations empower people (Holman et al., 2018).
Individual and Community- level social cohesion were found to be positively associated with physical activity. Promoting social cohesion and integration within communities may promote physical activity and overall health. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cancer and increases longevity (Yip et al., 2016).
Societies face challenge of keeping the aging population active. Investments in promoting physical activity in populations across the life span can result in greater independence and productivity later in life (Rachele et al., 2016).
· Globally 1 in 5 adults is physically inactive.
· Developed countries 1 in 3.
· In Canada only 15% of adults meet physical guidelines set out by WHO (Yip et al., 2016).
A high level of social cohesion at the neighbourhood level is associated with less crime which in turn can be associated with greater participation in physical activity. The residents of these neighbourhoods are more likely to organize community activities (Yip et al., 2016).
At the individual level it is important to feel socially connected to the community which will increase the likelihood of the person participating in the community organized activities (Yip et al., 2016).
Social cohesion at the community level generally refers to the absence of social conflict and the presence of strong social bonds among neighbours (Yip et al.; 2016).
It is possible for a person to live in a community with a high level of social cohesion without feeling included and the opposite can be said as well (Yip et al., 2016).
It may be said that a person’s sense of cohesion in the community and overall level of social cohesion in that community could both be associated with increases in physical activity (Yip et al., 2016).
According to the Canadian Community Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada in 2002, 45% of Nova
Scotians aged 12 and over reported being moderately physically active. It also reported 93% of physically active people were in good health.
Nova Scotia is a participant in the National Shared Strategy of Advancing Recreation. The National Framework defines recreation as: the experience that results from freely-chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community wellbeing (www.cpra.ca/about-the-framework).
In keeping with this national movement, Recreation Nova Scotia and the Active Living Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness partnered to develop a bold strategy for the advancement of recreation across Nova Scotia (www.recreationns.ns.ca/shared-strategy.html).
Resources
Holman, D., Walker, A. Social Quality and Health: Examining individual and neighbourhood contextual effects Using a multilevel modelling approach. Social Indicators Research.(2018).138(1) p. 245-270.
Rachele, J.N., Ghani, F., Loh, V.H.Y., Brown, W.J., Turrell,G. Associations between physical activity and the neighbourhood environment; baseline results from HABITAT multilevel study. (2016). V93, p. 219-225.
Yip, C., Sarma, S., Wilk, P. The Association between social cohesion and physical activity in Canada: A multilevel analysis. SSM-Population Health. ( 2016 December). V.2, p. 718-723.
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