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Organised sport is increasingly recognised as a culturally acceptable site for mental health and wellbeing promotion. To date, however, there is limited knowledge pertaining to how exactly mental health and wellbeing is supported in such contexts. The present study aimed to provide insight into mental health and wellbeing promotion practices in Australian sports clubs. An online cross-sectional survey examined the current provision of mental health and wellbeing initiatives in sports clubs, barriers and motives to such promotional efforts, and perceptions of psychological safety within club environments. The survey was completed by 302 stakeholders of Australian sports clubs (Mage = 41.3 ± 15.7 years, 46.7% male). Fewer than half of stakeholders (47.7%) reported that their sports club had implemented initiatives to support mental health and wellbeing. Insufficient resources (e.g. knowledge, finances) were identified as the most prominent barrier to such promotional efforts. Sports clubs reported using various initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing, although evidence-based resources (e.g. Ahead of the Game) were rarely implemented. Stakeholders in sports clubs that had implemented initiatives to support mental health and wellbeing perceived their club as a more mentally healthy environment and attained higher mental health literacy scores. Ongoing efforts to increase the utilisation of sports settings to support mental health and wellbeing are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few men who experience a common mental disorder access any mental healthcare from a health professional. E-mental health (eMH; online) interventions may facilitate men's access to mental healthcare and reduce inequities in access via assistance in a format that aligns with their preferences and needs. Recent reviews show that men who have used these programmes generally find them useful and satisfactory; however, data on their effectiveness and factors impacting effectiveness in men's use are limited. Few eMH interventions have been designed specifically to suit men's preferences and circumstances, and little is known about the eMH-related experiences and needs of men from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds. Despite their potential, Australian men's health, digital mental health, preventive health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and social and emotional well-being policies—and men's health policies from Malaysia, Ireland, and South Africa—make no specific mention to progressing the use or evaluation of eMH for men. We present a series of policy recommendations, aiming to improve men's access to effective and acceptable mental health assistance via eMH and increase health professional confidence to recommend and support these programmes. These include (i) the need for specific, connected health policy actions and targeted funding; (ii) policy priorities for intervention development, dissemination and evaluation; and (iii) for the experiences of men, particularly those from marginalized and vulnerable backgrounds, to be centred in policy. eMH for men should be promoted alongside interventions to reduce systems and social-level determinants of men's mental health inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surf lifesaving in Australia is an iconic community volunteer service. Surf lifesaving members must attain their bronze medallion, which includes fundamental first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques in order to patrol the beaches. Each year thousands of rescues and first aid procedures are conducted on the beaches of Australia as volunteer patrolling surf lifesavers carry out their community service. However, there is a sport attached to this community service, which has arguably become the 'face' of surf lifesaving in Australia. Some athletes are professional, and others gain a range of sponsorships. Many others are juniors and Masters competitors. The national championships each year draw anywhere between 5000 and 8000 competitors and spectators. Not without its critics, the masculinised nature of surf lifesaving has come under scrutiny in the past (Booth, 2001). Significantly, this is a paper about young males and the way in which masculinity is socially constructed within both a sporting and broader social and cultural context. It is also a paper that challenges the way in which the male body is endorsed, perceived, and used in a utilitarian manner from boyhood through to early male adulthood, across a range of settings thereby creating a normalised conception of the male body throughout life. Using surf lifesaving as vehicle through which young males can be explored, it identifies the role of sport in the creation of this normalisation and specifically highlights, through an autoethnographic account, the expectation placed on young males within the masculinised sporting setting of surf lifesaving in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the well-documented health, social and economic benefits of sports participation, adults' participation in organised sport declines as age increases. To date, no review has summarised the multi-level factors that influence adults' decisions to participate in sport. Therefore, this systematic literature review aimed to: 1) determine the facilitators, constraints and negotiated constraints to adults' (25–64 years) sport participation, and 2) summarise these factors according to the multiple levels of the social-ecological model. A total of 91 articles were identified following an extensive literature search conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were published over four decades (1983–2023), predominantly located in North America (n = 45; 49.5%), ranged from 5 to 10,646 participants, examined mainly middle-aged adults (M range = 35–44 years; n = 52; 48.6%), included more males (61.6%) than females (38.1%), and were conducted in primarily single sport contexts (n = 63; 69.2%). Overall, more unique facilitators (55 items) were identified than constraints (35 items) and negotiated constraints (13 items). The desire for improved health and enjoyment were the most frequently reported facilitators, and the main constraints were injury or illness and family commitments. Constraint negotiation strategies largely included individual (e.g., implementing financial strategies) and interpersonal factors (e.g., encouraging others to participate). This review highlighted the expansive multi-level factors that influence adults' sports participation, reiterated the complexity of developing appropriate sport offerings, and identified a lack of studies examining non-sport participants. Strategies to support adult sport participation should focus on enjoyment, consider co-designed sport modifications to alleviate perceived constraints and integrate behaviour change theory to foster positive sport participation habits. • Adults' sports participation behaviour is complex and dynamic. • Individual factors related to health and enjoyment were prevalent. • Social connection and family influences commonly affected participation. • A deeper understanding of enjoyment and sport preferences for adults is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, and throughout the world, it is evident that the mental health and wellbeing of young males aged 15-24, is not a priority. In Australia suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged 15-24 years and 75% are male (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian hospital statistics 2011-12, 2021). It is clear young males as well as those who identify as indigenous or LGBTIQ are at risk groups with respect to self arm and suicide (Drummond, MJN, et al. 2019). It is the transition period from adolescence to adluthood that is of particular concern. Often young males must pass through this phase of life with minimal guidance or direction and without a "safe space" where they can attain emotional support. Sport is a significant part of boys' and young males' lives and offers that "safe space". Sport can play a substantial role in protective mental health through socialization and engagement in a socially endorsed activity that seemingly has far more positive outcomes than negative ones. This research is underpinned by both quantitative and qualitative research with young males involved masculinised sporting clubs. Its aim is to provide insights into how we can create safe spaces for males and influence positive forms of masculinities that can enhance mental health promotion among young males. This mixed methods research explores issues around mental health in young males involved across two male dominated sporting codes in Australian (Australian football and cricket). Surveys and interviews with young males age 15-24 as well as parents, coaches and key stakeholders underpin this research. While the data is designed to assist in the development of educational resources for males to influence positive forms of masculinities that can enhance mental health promotion among young males involved in these sporting codes, this paper reports on the exploratory nature of the data and raises important issues emerging among young males with respect to mental health and the role of the sporting club. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young males experience markedly poorer mental health outcomes. Organised sport settings provide novel prospects to improve the mental health of this subpopulation. This systematic review aimed to evaluate interventions targeted at the promotion of mental health and wellbeing among young males in organised sporting contexts. Six databases (SportDiscus, PsycInfo, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL) were searched from inception to June 2022 (and updated in September 2023). Eligible studies examined interventions targeting the mental health and wellbeing (e.g., depression, anxiety, resilience) or mental health literacy (e.g., stigmatising attitudes, help-seeking) of young males aged 10–24 years (or associated stakeholder samples; e.g., parents or coaches of male youth). A total of 15 studies were included in this review. Overall, the findings indicate promising effects of sport-based interventions on the mental health and mental health literacy outcomes of young males. This review suggests that there is scope to improve the capacity of sports-based interventions to affect positive change in the mental health of male youth. The findings from this review also have important implications for the development and evaluation of sports-based interventions targeted at young males in future. • Few mental health interventions have targeted young males in sport settings. • Sports-based interventions affect positive change in mental health literacy. • Limited evidence that sport-based interventions facilitate positive mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mental health of young people in youth sport has received growing academic attention and sporting clubs are identified as important settings for prevention and early intervention. Despite this, very few studies have explored the perceptions of multiple stakeholders about youth sporting clubs as spaces for mental health awareness, education, and training. The purpose of the study was to understand the capacity of youth sporting clubs1 to become a site for general mental health support and explore parents, coaches, club leaders and youth participants perceptions about their sporting club's readiness for mental health awareness, education, and training initiatives. Using an Interpretive Description (ID) research methodology, 26 participants (parents, youth, club leaders/coaches) involved in community-level youth sport participated in a qualitative telephone interview. Data was analyzed thematically, leading to the construction of three themes about the barriers for building and maintaining a culture of mental health support in youth sport: (a) initial resistance, (b) teething issues and (c) turbulence. The themes reflected perceptions about varying levels of club readiness for meaningfully supporting positive mental health and indicated that many youth sporting clubs may find it difficult to sustain long-term, positive change. The study suggests that while sport can be a promising avenue to promote positive mental health, it is not without multiple forms of resistance, which if not navigated, may discourage efforts to establish and maintain club settings as sites for mental health, education, awareness, and first aid training. Implications for the field are discussed. Lay Summary: Parents, youth sport participants and club leaders/coaches were interviewed for the purpose of understanding their views of youth sporting clubs' capacity to become a site for mental health support. The thematic findings suggest that clubs are differentially equipped to support meaningful cultural change surrounding mental health and sport. Clubs seeking to become a site for mental health support encounter various barriers and therefore display differential levels of "readiness" for change. To meaningfully and sustainably create clubs that support mental health, additional intervention methods are necessary to support mental health education, awareness-raising activities and first aid training in youth sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current review aimed to synthesise the literature on food literacy interventions among adolescents in secondary schools, the attitudes and perceptions of food literacy interventions in secondary schools, and their effects on dietary outcomes.Design: The systematic review searched five electronic databases from the earliest record to present.Setting: The studies selected for the review were from sixteen countries: Australia (n 10), Canada (n 1), China (n 1), France (n 1), Greece (n 2), Iran (n 1), South Africa (n 1), South India (n 1), Kenya (n 1), Norway (n 2), Portugal (n 1), Denmark (n 1), Northern Ireland (n 1), USA (n 17), UK (n 1) and Sweden (n 2).Participants: Adolescents aged 10-19 years.Results: Forty-four studies were eligible for inclusion. Adolescents with greater nutritional knowledge and food skills showed healthier dietary practices. Studies found a mixed association between food literacy and long-term healthy dietary behaviour. Two studies showed an improvement in adolescents' cooking skills and food safety knowledge; six studies showed an improvement in overall food safety knowledge; six studies showed an improvement in overall food and nutritional knowledge; and two studies showed an improvement in short-term healthy dietary behaviour.Conclusions: Food literacy interventions conducted in a secondary-school setting have demonstrated a positive impact on healthy food and nutritional knowledge. However, there appears to be limited evidence supporting food literacy interventions and long-term dietary behaviours in adolescents. More evidence-based research is required to adequately measure all domains of food literacy and more age-specific food literacy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talking to children about their health-related understandings and experiences can provide valuable information for public health practitioners who seek to improve children's dietary behaviours. To date, however, research on children's food consumption has generally prioritized the views of parents and caregivers, rather than children themselves. This paper reports results from a qualitative study that explored preadolescent children's attitudes and perceptions towards health and nutrition. 38 children aged 11-12 years, across three state government schools, took part in an individual interview or group interview. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis techniques. Our results indicate that children inextricably linked the concept of health to diet and physical activity. They pondered the connection between different types of foods and physical implications for the body, emphasising nutrition and physical activity as a resource for preventing the onset of chronic disease and specifically the state of 'fatness'. Children collectively overemphasised the correlation between body size and health, and expressed that people should take responsibility for healthy choices to prevent fatness. In their discussions, they referred to aesthetic elements of the body and negative consequences of obesity. Overall, we argue that children's discourses of health and nutrition are potentially problematic. Results suggest that it is important to reshape these ideas to encourage children to develop more positive relationships with food and physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involvement in organized sport can be highly demanding for young athletes who encounter many difficult situations and stressors. This can be exacerbated among youth athletes who have been recruited into talent-identification youth sport programs. Given that there are a range of negative consequences that can result when talent-identified (TI) youth athletes are unable to cope with the stressors they encounter, additional support is therefore necessary. Parents are uniquely situated to assist in this regard, but they are not always equipped to provide optimal levels of support. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the experiences of being a TI youth athlete and present the findings as “lessons” for parents seeking to enhance their involvement in TI youth sport settings. This article reports on qualitative data collected from the 1st year of a 3-year longitudinal study involving TI youth athletes from South Australia. Fifty male athletes (M age = 14.6 years) participated in focus groups to hear their experiences of being a TI youth athlete and understand what difficulties they want their parents to know. From the thematic analysis, 3 major themes were identified from the focus groups with TI youth athletes: (a) difficulties with being talented, (b) negotiating the future, and (c) playing for improvement. From the findings, a number of lessons for parents and youth sport organizations are offered to assist the transmission of knowledge to an applied setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-dense nutrient poor foods and drinks, often referred to as discretionary choices, can contribute a significant amount of energy, fat, sodium and sugar to the diet if consumed in large quantities. Currently many Australian children are consuming a diet that is characterised by large quantities of discretionary items. We undertook a qualitative study to gain a descriptive account of preadolescent children's attitudes and perceptions towards health and nutrition. A series of 6 focus groups and 14 individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-eight children aged 11-12 years, across three state government schools in a socially disadvantaged region of metropolitan South Australia. The naturalistic manner of qualitative inquiry led to several unintended yet highly pertinent emergent themes, including children's perceptions and practices surrounding discretionary food consumption. Our results indicate that while Australian guidelines recommend that discretionary foods are consumed 'only sometimes and in small amounts', children generally held a different belief with respect to what constituted 'sometimes'. Many children identified that discretionary foods should be consumed in moderation to maintain a balanced diet, yet reported consuming these foods frequently. Self-reported discretionary food consumption was grounded in socially constructed experiences valued by the children, who made situational attributions to foods and legitimised discretionary food consumption in certain contexts, for example during the weekend. Overall, there is variability between children's opinions about the acceptable frequency of consumption of discretionary foods compared with national guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characteristic issues surrounding parents in youth sport include examples of negative verbal and non-verbal behaviour demonstrated during competition. Numerous studies have done well to highlight while parents possess a great potential for positively influencing the sport experience, they can also exert a considerable negative influence by engaging in a range of non-preferred and inappropriate behaviours. There is certainly a need to further understand the nature of the sport-parenting paradigm given that encouraging and supportive parental involvement is a critical factor in promoting enjoyment and intrinsic motivation among participants. This is particularly important given that children's preferred parental behaviours are temporally dependent. That is, different types of parental involvement are preferred before, during and after competitive sport. However, one aspect of parental involvement in youth sport which has been largely overlooked is the post-game setting. Drawing on qualitative data derived from focus groups and individual interviews with 86 parents and children involved in junior Australian football, this paper reveals an aspect of the sport-parenting role which can further enhance or undermine the youth sport experience. Specifically, it reveals an intriguing insight into the way that parents engage in ‘debriefing’ children's performances—representing a challenge for parents who strive to engender a positive and supportive influence in youth sport. While the concept of sport-parenting receives much attention within the competitive setting, this paper argues that in order to enhance the quality of parental involvement in youth sport, much can be learnt from exploring ‘what happens after the game’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

While previous studies have investigated online health communities and health-seeking behaviours, less attention has been directed at the growing impact of the online fitness movement. This paper draws on the concept of biopedagogies to examine the messages transmitted within fitness culture on social networking sites (SNSs), and their role as a channel for health and fitness information. To explore this, a multi-method approach was conducted. The two methods included a netnography (online ethnography) and 22 semi-structured individual interviews with female participants aged 18–24 in Australia. The study suggests that online fitness use is becoming a popular leisure activity and source of health and fitness information. It reveals how SNSs are used as a platform to gather and teach ideas of health and fitness, and the manner in which textual and photographic online communication facilitates the social construction and transmission of this knowledge. Results indicated that although fitness accounts on SNSs offer differing notions to present alternative and competing realities, users predominantly chose to follow the normalised and dominant health discourses. Noteworthy, the onus is firmly placed on the individual within these health and fitness messages to adhere to norms of correct health practices and choices. This has connotations relevant to eHealth literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the body images of straight and gay men have received extensive research attention, there has been little consideration of bisexual men’s perceptions of body image. In this qualitative investigation of openly bisexual men from both the United Kingdom and Australia, men discuss their perceptions of body image, masculinity and sexuality. The findings show that the ideal body described resembles the mesomorphic body image suggested to be ideal by research into both gay and straight men’s perspectives on body image. However, the participants differentiated between what they termed a ‘masculine’ body and a ‘gay’ body, with the latter being viewed as undesirable. Thus, concerning perceptions of the male body, the bisexual men in this study participate in the cultural conflation of masculinity and heterosexuality, illustrating a degree of internalised homonegativity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Health literacy, which relates to the acquisition, understanding and application of health information, has become an increasingly important public health issue, particularly where parents and children are concerned. Given that the home setting comprises a strong influence on children's diets, this qualitative study explored the concept of health literacy using parents' experiences with health information seeking and food related parenting practices. Semi-structured focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with parents, with children aged from birth to 12 years, in a low socio-economic region of South Australia. The results of this study indicated that there were a number of perceived barriers to accessing, understanding and utilising health information related to children's nutrition. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of how parents obtain and process dietary information and the channels through which they appear to be accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent literature regarding men's body image has called for increased understanding of body areas of concern to men, other than muscle and thinness. Accordingly, men's concerns with body hair, and hair removal (depilatory) practices, emerged as a new area of research attention. Prior literature suggests men-and especially gay men-may idealise a smooth torso, and engage in various forms of depilation to achieve that aesthetic. The present study is a qualitative investigation of the perceptions of body hair among a sub-group of gay men: gay athletes. Contrary to the opinions expressed by gay men more generally, the participants in this study shared a lack of concern regarding body hair, and rendered depilation as unnecessary, unattractive, and unnatural. These results indicate the importance of investigating subpopulations when conducting body image research among gay men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THIS PAPER IS BASED ON QUALITATIVE research data from a project investigating early childhood boys' constructions of masculinities in relation to sport, health and the body. The focus group data, with 33 boys, has been collected in each of the boys' first three years at school. It is part of the data that will be collected over eight years with the same cohort of boys, as they continue through their primary school years. The paper will highlight important issues the boys raise about sport, health, masculinities and the body, including descriptions and interpretations of how the male body should look and how it should perform. These are pivotal in terms of how these boys in early childhood perceive the hegemonic masculine male body. Given the challenges in accessing qualitative data from boys in early childhood, the paper will also highlight methodological processes by which the data was attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the emerging array of papers on the male body, many are functionalist in their approach in terms of answering a question or questions around 'bodies' or 'body image' and often from a positivist epistemology. Much of this previous research has focused broadly on 'males' or specifically 'gay males'. Consequently, there is a distinct absence of focus on heterosexual men's bodies and the meaning of these bodies within broader culture. This paper aims to redress the paucity of analysis around the heterosexual male body using in-depth qualitative interviews to listen to the voices of younger and older heterosexual males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on focus groups with young Australian males across a range of social demographics and ages in primary school years (5-12 years). It investigates the role of physical activity and dietary behaviours in the lives of young males. The paper will articulate the way in which young males come to perceive physical activity and dietary behaviours, including broader constructions of health, within the context of their lives. Understanding the decision making of young males' around physical activity and dietary behaviours will play a significant role in the health outcomes of adult men by through improved targeted health education and health promotion programs for this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are substances that can facilitate muscle growth and development. They are of appeal to a variety of individuals, including competitive athletes and persons dissatisfied with their body image-especially gay men. In this qualitative study, 16 elite gay male athletes from the United States, Canada and Australia were interviewed regarding their opinions of AAS, masculinity, homosexuality, and sport, among other issues. The athletes expressed a general dislike of AAS, asserting the substances were un-masculine, un-natural, un-healthy, and un-sportsmanlike. Despite these reservations concerning AAS, the athletes described their own use of other ergogenic substances. A contradiction thus exists between the athletes' reasons for not using AAS and the athletes' reasons for using other substances. These findings are used to critique and nuance contemporary theory in body image research, masculinity, and sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stories about individual's lives in relation to sport, and the body have intrigued me. This is due in part to my significant involvement in sport throughout my life and its central role in shaping my masculine identity. I have been particularly interested in autoethnographies as a means through which such stories are conveyed. It is the intense personal meaning that has captivated me most. I often contemplated the capacity to tell my story of a life so heavily invested in sport. The following article is an autoethnography of my body involved in elite level sport. I use a life historical approach to articulate the way in which my body became the focus of my existence within sport and how this impacted my masculine identity. This is a story about my life, and my body in sport. I invite the reader to share my story in the desire that it will elicit a similar response to those engendered in me when I am engaged with a meaningful story. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the period from 2000 to 2007, 45 peer-reviewed articles have been published regarding body image in gay men from Westernized cultures. Despite that academic focus on gay men's bodies, little attention has been paid to the methods and methodologies used to generate that knowledge. This article conducted a systematic literature review of the peer-reviewed articles published during that eight-year period so as to engage in an analysis and critique of the methods used in gay male body image research. Emergent themes from the review included the need for improved recruitment methods, the precarious role of the Internet in body image research, a need for clarity regarding the definition of homosexuality and bisexuality, a lack of longitudinal data, the need for psychometric standardization, and openness regarding methodology on the part of qualitative research. Suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of physical activity and sports to older men and their implications in the development and preservation of the masculine self-image in later life. It states that physical degeneration and clinical endpoints for diseases are some of the consequences identified due to lack of older men to engage in those activities. Engaging in what is socially and culturally fit as being masculine, physical activity, and sport provide aging men the chance to affirm their masculinity in addition to making them feel empowered about dealing in health-related behaviors.

Children as young as five experience feelings of body image dissatisfaction. However, body image research has tended to focus on females due to myriad social and cultural issues girls/women confront in terms of their body image. Therefore, in an attempt to redress this imbalance, this paper investigates the constructions of body image and health among young boys between 5-6 years of age using qualitative research. While the paper highlights the young boys' voices, it specifically identifies how boys construct notions around their bodies and body identity. This research highlights the early age at which boys begin to reflect upon, compare, and contrast their own bodies with others and the images surrounding them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children’s voices have not often found their way into research. Concerns about their powers of communication, cognitive abilities and the ethical difficulties inherent when working with children have restricted their participation. Objective, empirical evidence suggests that if one engages children in research appropriately they are able to make a significant contribution. However, methodologies that require researchers to adopt a role of passive observer potentially pose ethical dilemmas. When working with children ethical dilemmas can be minimised by taking on the role of a participant adult. The participant adult role for the researcher is entirely congruent with the cognitive and social needs of children to participate meaningfully in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men's bodies have been increasingly placed under scrutiny in contemporary Western culture. Gay males have been identified as presenting a greater risk of body image disturbance than heterosexual males as a consequence of the aesthetically driven gay culture. While there are few services available for gay men with body image concerns,there are even fewer available for gay men from non-English speaking cultures. This is a concern for young gay males coming from masculinised cultures in which living up to archetypal heterosexual masculine ideals is a cultural family imperative. This paper reports qualitative research with six Asian gay males living in Adelaide, Australia, aged 18-25. A life historical perspective provides reflections on the participants' bodies growing up gay in masculinised cultures. The paper also highlights the men's current plight as they struggle to come to terms with being Asian gay men living in a white, heterosexual, Anglo-Australian environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Men's bodies and body image have attracted increasing attention from researchers and popular press journalists during the past decade. Arguably, Western culture tends to identify men's body image issues as heterosexual notions. Although research on gay men's body image has increased, a cultural myth remains that gay men are more susceptible to body image concerns and eating disorders due to the aesthetic-oriented gay culture. This article reports in-depth interviews with fourteen young gay men on issues of bodies and body identity, particularly regarding masculinity. The men, aged 18-25 and living in Adelaide, Australia, identify aspects of gay culture with the capacity to promote and reinforce body image concerns among gay males. A life historical perspective provides reflections on participants' bodies in school, including those of growing up young and gay. Current body-based issues are identified, highlighting the plight of many gay males regarding the physical-aesthetic-driven culture in which they exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boys who are highly skilled in sports and physical activity generally have a positive body-identity. Conversely, boys perceived to be less skilled in these areas can feel disassociated from their bodies and consequently develop a poor body concept. This paper is based on in-depth interviews with boys whom physical education teachers identified as either being highly skilled or less skilled in sports and physical activities. The paper highlights the importance of physicality in boys' lives. The paper also identifies important issues that physical educators and other health professionals should appreciate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study that investigates the social construction of masculinity in sports. The study highlights the way in which sport, men, and relationships are uniquely interrelated. Specifically, men's relationships with women, fathers, peers and , finally, other men from different sports is explored and discussed in relation to elite level sport. Thereupon, it discusses further with respect to men in general and related to men throughout contemporary Western culture. This study uses sport to identify the problems associated with masculine identity, and provides a looking glass for the problems associated with the social construction of masculinity for men in contemporary Western society. Furthermore, the study identifies some changes that emerge throughout sportsmen's lives and hence discusses the effects of the changes on personal identity and subsequent relationships. The ideology of addressing the problems at the elite level is based on the notion that many young men use elite level sportsmen as role models.

This study investigates the body image perceptions, body satisfaction and exercise habits of six male fitness leaders and explores the impact of these issues on professional practice. High levels of body satisfaction were exhibited and associated with the ability to perform physical activity well. Therefore, a lean and defined body was desired, rather than a hypermuscular physique. The men were highly conscious of physical appearance and exhibited a preoccupation with low body fat levels, for themselves and others. Clients were also expected to be committed to high levels of physical activity. These beliefs can have negative effects on clients who may have weight and body image concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodResultsConclusions\nKey PointsAthletes typically report a high prevalence of mental health issues and face significant barriers within the sporting environment that prevent help seeking. However, little is known about how retired or non-elite athletes engage with support; this lack of empirical data is even more pronounced in the case of sleep disorders.A cross-sectional online survey was completed by current and former athletes (n = 946; 495 women, 444 men, 7 non-binary) from all sports and competition levels in seven countries. Self-disclosed diagnosis history, help-seeking behaviours, and functional impact of sleep and mental health disorders were assessed.Comparable rates of mental health disorders were observed between current athletes (39.3%) and former athletes (42.0%), OR = 1.17, p = .337. Similarly, comparable rates of sleep disorders were observed between current athletes (25.4%) and former athletes (30.9%), OR = 1.20, p = .298. Men reported lower mental health disorder prevalence than women (32.9% vs. 46.3%), OR = 1.82, p < .001. Gender differences were also evident in the types of disorders reported. For sleep disorders, men were less likely to seek assistance from a psychologist than women (8.4% vs. 26.2%), p < .001,φ = 0.23. No differences in help seeking avenues for mental health were observed. Comorbid disorders had more frequent functional impairment than individual sleep or mental health disorders.These self-reported prevalence estimates have significance for practitioners and clinicians. Data indicates the most prevalent types of disorders in these populations and where athletes typically engage in support. Evaluating the time course of these disorders can inform health promotion strategies and treatment methods for practitioners and support staff.What is already known about this topic: Higher rates of mental health disorders are observed in athletes who are women–a potential consequence of men fearing breaches of masculinity.Former athletes present similar prevalence of sleep and mental health problems to current athletes, despite the removal of sport specific demands and barriers to help seeking.Despite increased attention to mental health in sports, various barriers prevent athletes from engaging in help-seeking behaviours.Higher rates of mental health disorders are observed in athletes who are women–a potential consequence of men fearing breaches of masculinity.Former athletes present similar prevalence of sleep and mental health problems to current athletes, despite the removal of sport specific demands and barriers to help seeking.Despite increased attention to mental health in sports, various barriers prevent athletes from engaging in help-seeking behaviours.What this topic adds: This novel study explores the help seeking behaviours of both current and retired athletes. Comparable diagnosis rates between cohorts were observed, underscoring the need for continued support post-retirement.Gender disparities in diagnosis rates, diagnosis types and help-seeking avenues were apparent, emphasising the need for further research in gender diverse samples.Comorbid disorders appeared to have greater perceived functional impairment, highlighting the importance of early intervention and equal promotion of sleep and mental health education.This novel study explores the help seeking behaviours of both current and retired athletes. Comparable diagnosis rates between cohorts were observed, underscoring the need for continued support post-retirement.Gender disparities in diagnosis rates, diagnosis types and help-seeking avenues were apparent, emphasising the need for further research in gender diverse samples.Comorbid disorders appeared to have greater perceived functional impairment, highlighting the importance of early intervention and equal promotion of sleep and mental health education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue of the International Journal of Men's Health provides an overview on men's body image both in terms of content and the underpinning ethos of the contributing authors. Further, it highlights the contemporary change of research on men's bodies from one of quantitative psychological analyses to a more qualitative and, some might say, broader, eclectic and theoretical perspective. The issue emphasizes the need for diversity when researching men and body image, which arguably has been achieved in this collection of papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions on perceived health and wellbeing of young Australian sport and physical activity participants. A survey was conducted during the first COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns in Australia (May–June 2020). Health measures were tabulated against five respondent characteristics, including settings and modes of sport and physical activity, and comparisons made with chi-square tests. Findings indicate that male youth were significantly more likely to report better physical (p =.001), general (p =.014), and mental (p ≤.001) health compared to female youth. Individuals involved in both team and individual sport reported significantly better general (p =.022) and physical health (p =.003) compared to those involved in individual only sports or physical activity. While it is unclear if this is dose-related, team-based sport may encourage increased time in physical activity (i.e., dose) or social interactions, or a combination of both factors, which potentially buffers against declining health outcomes due to pandemic restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the experiences of male primary school teachers in regional Australia. Drawing on 53 open-ended survey responses and interviews undertaken with five male teachers in Tasmania, the paper analyses their perspectives of their work and roles, and the additional labour of 'career identity work' through sport. For the men in this study, these additional roles find their antecedents in particular constructions of hegemonic masculinity where, on the one hand, they are expected to be 'tough disciplinarians' and, on the other, assumed to be 'soft' or 'sinister' for wanting to work with young children. Sport provided a safe context through which to manage such perceptions of their professional identity. Our study of teacher identities has wider significance for educators and policy makers to assist them understand and address the problem of low levels of recruitment and retention of male primary school teachers in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surf lifesavers and lifeguards have provided essential education, preventative, and rescue services to the Australian community for over 110 years. In this first responder role, surf lifesavers and lifeguards are inadvertently exposed to high risk and trauma related experiences, which may negatively impact mental well-being. To date however, there has been limited research into the mental health of surf lifesavers and lifeguards, and no studies at all on the mental health of adolescent surf lifesavers. The preliminary study aimed to measure the exposure of potentially traumatic events (PTEs), post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), self-efficacy, social support, and attitudes towards mental health problems in Surf Life Saving (SLS) members. Methods: An anonymous, online survey was developed (adolescent and adult versions) and created to measure the domain of mental health in surf lifesavers and lifeguards. Pearson's correlations investigated relationships between PTEs, PTSS, self-efficacy, social support, attitudes towards mental health problems, age, years as a SLS member, and years patrolling. Spearman's Rank was used for violations of normality. Results: A total of 57 surf lifesavers/lifeguards aged 13–59 years were included in the final analysis. There was a significant positive relationship between exposure to direct trauma and PTSS, which in turn, were associated with greater negative attitudes towards mental health problems towards the mental health of others, and lower levels of self-efficacy. Male and female adults with PTSS reported lower social support, whereas for adolescent males, a positive relationship between direct trauma and PTSS was observed. Conclusion: This research is the first to explore the mental health of Australian surf lifesavers and lifeguards. The results highlight the potential risks to mental health and well-being associated with this first responder role. More research to protect the vulnerability of this population is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australian culture, males dominate sports such as football, cricket and Australian Rules Football. Girls and women in such sports are frequently required to negotiate persistent gender constructs and stereotypes. Despite this, in recent years there has been an increase in girls' participation in sports that are constructed as masculine. The present study investigated adolescent girls' experiences (N = 34, aged 13–17 years) in three sports that are traditionally constructed as masculine in Australia; football, cricket, and Australian Rules Football. Through a sociological gendered lens, results from narrative inquiry indicated that adolescent girls are required to navigate gender constructs and sexuality stereotypes. Numerous inequities between girls and boys exist and are challenging to negotiate. The present findings suggest that social connectedness, mentors and same-sex role models assist girls to navigate their sport involvement. These findings provide a sound basis for future research to explore practical solutions to keep girls engaged in such sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief report describes three key lessons learned during a health literacy research project with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males from the Top End of the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. To understand the methodological contribution social media can make to equity-focused health literacy research, it is first useful to understand what is meant by health literacy. We recognise that Facebook posts may not be a true and accurate reflection of an individual's health behaviours - that is, there may be a gap between expressed health perceptions and attitudes, and subsequent health behaviours. [Extracted from the article]

• The founder, volunteers and donors were considered a key strength to the program. • Continues to grow however this places increasing demands for additional resources. • The program has several benefits but also some challenges to ongoing delivery. • Concerns about dual roles of the founder and ability to engage continued support. • At the school level, a lack of personnel affected the running of the program. To explore the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders involved in the implementation and delivery of the KickStart for Kids school breakfast program. Food insecurity is where individuals or households do not have enough food to meet dietary needs. In Australia, depending on the measurement tool used, the prevalence of food insecurity varies from 4% to 36% of the population. In comparison to other OECD countries, Australia is ranked in the bottom third for the level of childhood food insecurity. In response to an identified need, the KickStart for Kids school breakfast program was implemented in 2009 to provide food to disadvantaged youth. Currently the program provides approximately 50,000 breakfasts daily in 350 South Australian schools. Eleven key stakeholders representing program volunteers, board members and donors were recruited for this qualitative case study using a purposeful sampling strategy. Program volunteers were recruited from primary schools in socio-economically deprived areas in the north, south and west of Adelaide, South Australia. Data were collected through focus group and one-on-one interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Data analysis generated three key themes related to the perceived program benefits to children, and perceived strengths and challenges to the program. Overall, the key stakeholders identified several benefits to the children and strengths of the program. However, there were significant challenges that may impact on the program's ongoing sustainability and delivery of school breakfasts. This qualitative study provides novel and valuable information on the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders who are involved in the implementation and delivery of an Australian school breakfast program. Additional work could measure the program's impact on children's health and development outcomes. Further research could also be undertaken to add the voices of the school community, as well as the parents and children who participate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First responders often face traumatic and emotionally‐taxing incidents in their role. Understanding their mental health and coping capacity is important for wellbeing and continued service delivery. Surf lifesavers and lifeguards are an under researched yet a vital part of the first responder workforce. The recent Senate Report on first responders explored mental health in the leading emergency services personnel in Australia and found a high incidence of mental health difficulties in those who worked or volunteered as emergency responders. However, a significant literature gap exists regarding mental health of surf lifesavers and lifeguards in both the international and Australian context. Here we propose a strategy to address this gap, at the individual, organisational and community level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental involvement in youth sport is largely unknown. The objective of the study presented in this paper was to understand parental involvement in relation to their child's participation in organised sport during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an interpretive descriptive methodology, online qualitative interviews and online focus groups with parents and youth (15–18 years) (n = 29) were conducted during June 2020. Following a rigorous reflexive thematic analysis, four themes illustrated the nature of sport parenting during this stressful and uncertain period: (a) reshaping sport parenting identity, (b) the unexpected growth of sport parenting responsibilities, (c) responding to children's loss of sport, and (d) policies impact family commitment and attitudes to returning to sport. The findings are discussed considering Harwood and Knight's (2015) postulates of parenting expertise in sport and offer potential ideas to better support parents and children situated in unexpectedly stressful situations. • Parents reshaped their sport identity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. • Parents experienced a rapid and unexpected growth in responsibility as a sport parent. • Parental attunement and responsiveness to their children's needs was higher during lockdown. • Constant policy changes challenged parents' capacity to provide logistical support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy food choices among adolescents are considered a significant health concern. Current rhetoric adds a moral dimension to food and considers adolescents as moral and healthy eaters or less moral or less healthy eaters. While much research has investigated the structural barriers and facilitators to healthy eating, minimal scholarship has investigated Australian adolescents' symbolic and moral boundary beliefs and perceptions of healthy eating from different socioeconomic statuses. Using Lamont's (1992, 2000) concept of 'moral boundary work' and Sayer's (2005, 2011) ideas on the moral dimensions of social class, we explore Australian adolescents' beliefs and perceptions towards healthy eating from a symbolic and moral boundary perspective. The study consisted of seven focus groups interviews (N = 27) with Australian adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 (10 male, 17 female) across three different socioeconomic status secondary schools. An inductive thematic analysis approach was adopted to analyse the data. Adolescents associated healthy eating with 1) beliefs and perceptions, 2) moral judgement, and 3) ethical eating and food sustainability priorities. Overall, adolescents constructed and applied their own moral and symbolic meanings to healthy eating. Furthermore, adolescents exerted their moral boundaries by comparing their food choices with their families and peers. Current research is mixed if adolescents from low socioeconomic status positions engage in moral boundary work. This study makes an original contribution by introducing how Australian adolescents interpret healthy eating across socioeconomic status positions. The findings from the study suggest that Australian adolescents across a range of socioeconomic statuses do and can be engaged in moral boundary work and demonstrated a sense of self-worth and dignity regarding their dietary practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]