Health, Implementation and Innovation
Sport, Health and Implementation
The research group focuses upon the implementation of sport, exercise and health from multiple, perspectives from within the social sciences and humanities.
Our work includes research and evaluation on the impact of sport and health policy at political, social, organizational, historical and psychological levels.
We also focus upon how innovative health interventions which utilize sport, exercise or physical activity, are designed and implemented in multiple contexts, including the workplace, sports clubs, health centres, schools and both urban and rural areas.
The research group's research features ground-breaking social scientific research from both critical perspectives, and in relation to applied research or evaluation work conducted in collaboration with external stakeholders and researchers in sport and health promotion. To this end, the group has two key research tracks, or areas of inquiry.
Main tracks
Research relating to track one utilizes a broad conceptualisation of health relating to the body’s physical and mental status and to a healthy social life across the life course and in all social groups. Our work explores how both new and existing sport, exercise and health interventions and policies have been designed, implemented and evaluated.
Our work also focuses upon issues relating to welfare, citizenship, wellbeing and quality of life and the efficacy of the healthcare system and health strategies in relation to the promotion and maintenance of active lifestyles.
Such work coheres around several key issues relating to social inequalities and the experience of sport and health, including socio-economic class, physical activity across the life-course, gender and racial/ethnic inequalities and other groups at risk of (or in the process of managing) ill-health.
We aim to produce new insights into the barriers and opportunities presented to such specific populations by interventions intended to create the possibility for positive, active lifestyles. Consequently, this theme focuses upon how sports providers implement and have implemented sport and exercise programmes to promote good health, and enjoyment in the community.
Research in track 2 focuses upon our aim to characterise the embodied, subjective and lived experiences of sport and exercise for health in the community in both local and international contexts. We also aim to understand how these experiences influence participation amongst specific population groups (e.g. socio-economic class, racialized groups, age groups, gendered groups, disabled groups and groups with specific health needs).
Sports participation has diversified, and the organization of community sport has changed as a consequence such that more stakeholders (from multiple sectors) have a part to play. Consequently, we aim to investigate how the lived experience of sport shape participation in particular social contexts, in specific sport programmes and in the broader community.
In particular, we are interested in understanding the factors which influence the effectiveness and efficacy of innovative initiatives, programmes and interventions to promote active lifestyles, and how these influence and have influenced people’s experiences of being active.
Members of research group
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam B. Evans | Associate Professor | +4535331336 | |
| Hans Bonde | Professor | +4535320862 | |
| Laila Ottesen | Associate Professor, Head of Section | +4535321741 | |
| Maria Hybholt | Assistant Professor | +4535320840 | |
| Stefano De Dominicis | Assistant Professor - Tenure Track | +4535326016 |