John C Spence
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 77561 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | John C Spence |
| NOMBRES | John C |
| APELLIDO | Spence |
| FIRMA | SPENCE J C |
| AFILIACIONES | University of Alberta |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8485-1336 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 86 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 167 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 86 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 1993 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 7 |
Salutogenesis for health promotion
A binary view of health, categorizing individuals as either healthy or diseased, has directed much of physical activity research toward evidencing its biomedical benefits. Physical activity is positioned primarily as a means of reducing risk or preventing illness with an appropriate lifestyle modification (e.g. meeting guidelines), reinforcing a pathogenic perspective. A salutogenic perspective, grounded in the ‘dis-ease–ease’ continuum, emphasiz…
Using the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes to Identify Differences in the Pedestrian Built Environment for Neighborhoods with High and Low New-Immigrant Populations
This study examines the qualities of pedestrian environments associated with health supportiveness in the context of rapid increase of new-immigrant populations in Edmonton, Canada. Considering the risks of adverse health outcomes, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, injuries, chronic health conditions, and rapid expansion of new-immigrant populations, the health supportiveness of pedestrian environments in Edmonton needs to be ass…
Youth homeless shelter staff perceptions of a mobile recreation program
Youth homelessness is a complex social issue and accounts for the fastest growing demographic of individuals living without a home. Though it is well established that recreation can support youth socially, physically, and emotionally, the community partner perspective is rarely incorporated. The purpose of this study was to incorporate the perspectives of supportive housing staff about the importance of a mobile recreation program in the lives of…
Physical activity, screen time and dietary behaviours in New Zealand adolescents prior to and following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic
Despite observed higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of outside school screen time during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic levels, few adolescents met health behaviour guidelines at both time points. Therefore, comprehensive health promotion that aims to improve physical activity levels, screen time and dietary patterns for adolescents is still necessary to prevent chronic health conditions adulthood
Effectiveness of the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit
The relevance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in the promotion of sport, physical activity, and recreation in Canada
The 2022 ParticipAction Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Introduction The ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is the most comprehensive national assessment of physical activity and related behaviors, characteristics, and opportunities for children and youth. The 2022 Report Card assigned grades based on data gathered during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect this extraordinary time-period in Canada. Further, while not graded, efforts were made to summarize key findings …
‘Research is like English as a second dialect’
Participatory approaches, such as community-based participatory research (CBPR), have become more common in the physical activity literature over the last two decades. As well, there has been an increase in the number of published studies that have documented the use of such approaches when engaging in research with Indigenous peoples. However, published studies tend to focus on the results of research, and the processes of how to successfully en…
“I feel like a kid again”
Youth homelessness is at an all-time high in Canada and is a complex social issue. The vast majority of interventions and research focuses on addressing the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness, such as housing, harm reduction (due to substance use, violence, and crime) food security, and illness. The important role that recreation, sport, and physical activity play in the lives of youth is well established, however, the experience…
Re-assessing the social climate of physical (in)activity in Canada
Social-ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing population physical activity participation is to reconstruct the "social climate" through changing social norms and beliefs about physical activity (PA). In this study, we assessed whether the PA social climate in Canada has changed over a five-year period after controlling for sociodemographic factors and PA levels. Replicating a survey administered in 2018, a sample of adults in Ca…
Parental perceptions of a national program that funds sport participation for low-income children and youth in Canada
Purpose The financial costs associated with organized sport and recreation programs can act as salient barriers to child and youth participation. Programs that provide financial assistance to parents to support engagement may help alleviate these barriers, however little is known about how these programs actually impact families. This study examined the perceptions of parents who received funds from one such program (KidSport) in Eastern Canada.M…
Ambient air pollution and movement behaviours
Impact of the Covid-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth
Physical Activity as a Coping Strategy for Mental Health Due to the Covid-19 Virus
COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social disruption has left many to struggle with changes to routines and feelings of uncertainty as the impact of the virus continues to unfold. Evidence suggests an increase in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress as a result. Given the well-documented association between physical activity and mental health – be …
An exploration of the physical activity experiences of Northern Aboriginal youth
The purpose of this community-based participatory research was to explore the physical activity experiences of Northern Aboriginal youth in Canada. Fourteen Aboriginal youth from the ages of 13–19 years participated in interviews (one-on-one or sharing circles), and participant-generated photo-elicitation sharing circles. Five themes representing their physical activity experiences were identified: (a) encompassing meanings, (b) ‘makes me feel aw…
Policy-influencer perspectives on the development, adoption, and implementation of provincial school-based daily physical activity policies across Canada
These findings can inform development of future health-related polices in schools. Stakeholders can, for instance, remain attuned to the opening of political windows and capitalize on them as an opportunity to advocate for policy change or create communities of practice to enhance coordination among policy stakeholders. Future studies that explore why other jurisdictions have failed to adopt DPA policies might yield novel insights regarding lever…
A new anthropometric index to predict percent body fat in young adults
Objective: To propose a new anthropometric index that can be employed to better predict percent body fat (PBF) among young adults and to compare with current anthropometric indices. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: All measurements were taken in a controlled laboratory setting in Seoul (South Korea), between 1 December 2015 and 30 June 2016. Participants: Eighty-seven young adults (18–35 years) who underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA…
Examining the Experiences of Individuals Living in Low Income Using a Fee Assistance Program to Access Physical Activity and Recreation
The purpose of this project was to examine the experiences of participants enrolled in a fee assistance program for recreation in Mississauga, Canada. Adults living in low income (N = 24) who were registered with ActiveAssist engaged in individual semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Benefits associated with ActiveAssist included affordable access to recreation, community involvement, and benefits for…
Parental support of the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth
Teenagers and fathers may represent key targets for parental support intervention of the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Intervention content may need to comprise the underlying foundations of attitude and perceived behavioral control to change parental support while considering the unique features of each health behavior to maximize related intervention effectiveness
Physical activity and sedentary behavior across three time-points and associations with social skills in early childhood
Screen time was unfavorably associated with social skills across early childhood. Furthermore, all behaviors tracked at moderate to moderate-high levels from toddler to preschool ages. Therefore, promoting healthy physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns early in life, especially for screen time, may be important
Associations of friendship and children’s physical activity during and outside of school
Friendships play a significant role in child development and may influence children's physical activity (PA). Using a whole-network approach, this study examined whether school-based friends are more similar in their pedometer-measured PA compared to children who are not friends, and whether these patterns vary by gender, strength of friendship (best vs. close friends), and during vs. outside of school. The analytical sample included 706 grade 5 …
Believability of messages about preventing breast cancer and heart disease through physical activity
Active women likely internalized messages about heart disease prevention through physical activity, making the prevention messages more readily available within memory, and active women may therefore process such information differently. The study of how health-related beliefs are created and are related to perceptions of prevention messages is a rich area of study that may contribute to more effective health promotion
Long-term effects of comprehensive school health on health-related knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, health behaviours and weight status of adolescents
Our findings of no difference between the APPLE School graduates and comparison school graduates suggest that the effects of APPLE Schools may continue into adolescence or the new school environment may have an equalizing effect on the students. Since lifestyle practices are adopted throughout childhood and adolescence, and the school environment has an important influence on development, an extension of CSH initiatives into junior high/high scho…
The short-term effects of a mass reach physical activity campaign
This research addresses the gap in evidence regarding the efficacy of mass reach physical activity campaigns by informing whether a year-long campaign like the 150 Play List can be effective in influencing the behavior of those engaged with the campaign. The results reinforce the idea that 'top of mind' awareness should be measured. Investigating intention profiles can help inform campaign impacts and continuation intentions
Assessing the social climate of physical (in)activity in Canada
Ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing physical activity participation within a population is to reconstruct the “social climate”. This can be accomplished through 1) changing norms and beliefs, 2) providing direct support for modifying environments, and 3) implementing policies to encourage physical activity. Nevertheless, surveillance efforts have paid limited attention to empirical assessment of social climate. This study res…
The association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and exposure to supermarkets and fast food outlets
Neighborhood physical activity opportunities for inner-city children and youth
Neighborhood and developmental differences in children's perceptions of opportunities for play and physical activity
Eyes on where children play’
The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influenced childhood active free play. Participants were 13 young adults who resided in one western Canadian city. They took part in semi-structured and walk-along interviews during which they were asked about their memories and experiences of play. Analysis showed that, whereas parental restrictions and safety concerns were limiting factors, a sense of community and safety in numbers facilita…
Exploring Media Representations of Weight-Loss Surgery
Scholars have problematized popular culture and media (re)presentations of obesity/overweight. However, few have considered the ways bariatric surgery, a rapidly growing treatment for morbid obesity, fits within the discussion. In this article, we explore news media (re)presentations of bariatric surgery using an eclectic approach to critical discourse analysis. Our findings reveal dominant discourses about bariatric surgery and the surgical popu…
Key stakeholder perspectives on the development of walkable neighbourhoods
Taking a hard look at the Heart Truth campaign in Canada
The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation launched the Heart Truth campaign to increase women's awareness of heart disease. However, little is known about how such campaigns intersect with broader understandings of gender and health. This discourse analysis examined the construction of gender, risk, and prevention within campaign material. Two primary discourses emerged: one of acceptable femininity, which outlines whose risk, survivorship, and pr…
Meanings of play among children
The purpose of this study was to examine meanings of play among children. Thirty-eight students aged 7-9 years from a suburban public school in Western Canada participated in focus groups. Data analysis revealed participants saw almost anything as an opportunity for play and would play almost anywhere with anyone. However, they perceived parents to have somewhat different views regarding play. The children frequently described adults as restricti…
Treatment Preferences of Overweight Youth and Their Parents in Western Canada
The purpose of this study was to examine the family environment and assess treatment preferences among overweight youth and their parents. Data were collected via 41 interviews with parents and children from the wait-list of a weight management clinic and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Framed around an ecological framework, findings ranged from proximal family issues to more distal policy issues. At the family level, parents attempte…
There's a Cultural Pride Through Our Games
The purpose of this community-based participatory research was to better understand how participation in traditional games can enhance the sport experiences of Indigenous youth. Eight Indigenous youth (14-18 years) and 10 adults living in various communities in the Northwest Territories, Canada, participated in either a one-on-one interview or group interview. Data were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach, and findings suggest t…
Preferred Leisure Type, Value Orientations, and Psychological Well-Being Among East Asian Youth
This study investigated preferred leisure type and its associations with value orientations and psychological well-being (PWB) among adolescents in South Korea, China, and Japan (N = 6,157). Chi-square analyses were performed to examine differences in preferred leisure type (i.e., active vs. passive) across countries. Overall, adolescents preferred passive to active leisure. A series of logistic regressions showed that students who value religion…
Breast cancer representations in Canadian news media
Despite the importance of critical media work, much is to be learned about breast cancer representations within media discourses and the implications for women's identity construction. Building on research from Australia from a discursive perspective, this article used an eclectic approach to critical discourse analysis to explore the cultural construction of breast cancer in 25 detailed stories within Canada's two national newspapers, The Globe …
Corrélats subjectifs de la marche et du quartier chez les visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement
Coming to Consensus on Policy to Create Supportive Built Environments and Community Design
Parents’ Perception of Neighbourhood Environment as a Determinant of Screen Time, Physical Activity and Active Transport
Should Academics Advocate on Environmental Issues
Academic advocacy involves advancing convincingly reasoned arguments that are supported by research results and academic expertise. However, academics must recognize that their notions of “good” are context dependent. Advocacy is an important and useful service of the university and failure to advocate undermines the social relevance of academia. Nonetheless, advocacy can have personal cost for the advocate, and we consider it appropriate that in…
An intergenerational qualitative study of the good parenting ideal and active free play during middle childhood
This study addressed the question: How and why has the good parenting ideal changed in relation to active free play (AFP) during middle childhood? Twenty-eight middle class and predominantly white adults (14 grandparent-parent dyads) completed individual semi-structured interviews. Data were subjected to a thematic analysis. Two themes (changing expectations for parental involvement in children's lives and increasing expectations to involve child…
Creating Neighbourhood Groupings Based on Built Environment Features to Facilitate Health Promotion Activities
Non-refundable Tax Credits Are an Inequitable Policy Instrument for Promoting Physical Activity Among Canadian Children
The relevance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in the promotion of sport, physical activity, and recreation in Canada
Parental perceptions of a national program that funds sport participation for low-income children and youth in Canada
Purpose The financial costs associated with organized sport and recreation programs can act as salient barriers to child and youth participation. Programs that provide financial assistance to parents to support engagement may help alleviate these barriers, however little is known about how these programs actually impact families. This study examined the perceptions of parents who received funds from one such program (KidSport) in Eastern Canada.M…
Examining the Experiences of Individuals Living in Low Income Using a Fee Assistance Program to Access Physical Activity and Recreation
The purpose of this project was to examine the experiences of participants enrolled in a fee assistance program for recreation in Mississauga, Canada. Adults living in low income (N = 24) who were registered with ActiveAssist engaged in individual semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Benefits associated with ActiveAssist included affordable access to recreation, community involvement, and benefits for…
Community SES, Perceived Environment, and Physical Activity During Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation
Walkable by Willpower”
The Awareness and Use of Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living
Meta-Analysis for Explanation
Within-Class Grouping
The effects of within-class grouping on student achievement and other outcomes were quantitatively integrated using two sets of study findings. The first set included 145 effect sizes and explored the effects of grouping versus no grouping on several outcomes. Overall, the average achievement effect size was +0.17, favoring small-group learning. The second set included 20 effect sizes which directly compared the achievement effects of homogeneous…
A Descriptive Epidemiology of Sport and Recreation Injuries in a Population-Based Sample
Stages of Physical Activity in the Alberta Population
The Awareness and Use of Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living
Toward a comprehensive model of physical activity
A Descriptive Profile of Physical Education Teachers and Related Program Characteristics in Alberta
A survey of teachers and principals in Alberta was conducted to gain a descriptive profile of who is leaching physical education (PE) and to assess the relationship between PE specialists and variables associated with program delivery. A probability-sampling procedure was used to obtain a representative sample of schools. In these schools nonprobability procedures were used to recruit teachers. A total of'480 teachers' and 162 principals' questio…
Perceived environment and physical activity
MusicGrid
The technical requirements for widespread deployment of broadband video over the Internet are rapidly being met. But a harder challenge remains: how can video–based technologies promote collaboration and learning? We present a case study: the MusicGrid Project. Running from 2002 to 2004 with partners in several Canadian and international locations, this modestly funded initiative ran over one hundred successful multi–site education and performanc…
Food Deserts in the Prairies? Supermarket Accessibility and Neighborhood Need in Edmonton, Canada
The U.S. and U.K. literatures have discussed “food deserts,” reflecting populated, typically urban, low-income areas with limited access to full-service supermarkets. Less is known about supermarket accessibility within Canadian cities. This article uses the minimum distance and coverage methods to determine supermarket accessibility within the city of Edmonton, Canada, with a focus on high-need and inner-city neighborhoods. The results show that…
Corrélats subjectifs de la marche et du quartier chez les visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement
Profil des visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement
Neighborhood and developmental differences in children's perceptions of opportunities for play and physical activity
The association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and exposure to supermarkets and fast food outlets
Treatment Preferences of Overweight Youth and Their Parents in Western Canada
The purpose of this study was to examine the family environment and assess treatment preferences among overweight youth and their parents. Data were collected via 41 interviews with parents and children from the wait-list of a weight management clinic and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Framed around an ecological framework, findings ranged from proximal family issues to more distal policy issues. At the family level, parents attempte…
Relation between local food environments and obesity among adults
The lower the ratio of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores and produce vendors near people's homes, the lower the odds of being obese. Thus the proximity of the obesogenic environment to individuals appears to be an important factor in their risk for obesity
Diet quality, nutrition and physical activity among adolescents
Objective To assess the overall diet quality of a sample of adolescents living in Alberta, Canada, and evaluate whether diet quality, nutrient intakes, meal behaviours (i.e. meal skipping and consuming meals away from home) and physical activity are related. Design A cross-sectional study design. Students completed the self-administered Web-Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition (Web-SPAN). Students were classified as having poor, average or s…
Neighborhood physical activity opportunities for inner-city children and youth
Key stakeholder perspectives on the development of walkable neighbourhoods
Should Academics Advocate on Environmental Issues
Academic advocacy involves advancing convincingly reasoned arguments that are supported by research results and academic expertise. However, academics must recognize that their notions of “good” are context dependent. Advocacy is an important and useful service of the university and failure to advocate undermines the social relevance of academia. Nonetheless, advocacy can have personal cost for the advocate, and we consider it appropriate that in…
Association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and screen time among pre-school children
Some consideration should be given to providing alternative activity opportunities for children, especially girls who live in lower SES neighborhoods. Also, future research should continue to investigate the independent effects of neighborhood SES on screen time as well as the potential mediating variables for this relationship
Uptake and effectiveness of the Children's Fitness Tax Credit in Canada
More than half of Canadian parents with children have claimed the CFTC. However, the tax credit appears to benefit the wealthier families in Canada
Parents’ Perception of Neighbourhood Environment as a Determinant of Screen Time, Physical Activity and Active Transport
How many steps/day are enough? for children and adolescents
Worldwide, public health physical activity guidelines include special emphasis on populations of children (typically 6-11 years) and adolescents (typically 12-19 years). Existing guidelines are commonly expressed in terms of frequency, time, and intensity of behaviour. However, the simple step output from both accelerometers and pedometers is gaining increased credibility in research and practice as a reasonable approximation of daily ambulatory …
How many steps/day are enough? for adults
Physical activity guidelines from around the world are typically expressed in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity parameters. Objective monitoring using pedometers and accelerometers offers a new opportunity to measure and communicate physical activity in terms of steps/day. Various step-based versions or translations of physical activity guidelines are emerging, reflecting public interest in such guidance. However, there appears to be a …
Medicine (61 obras) · Psychology (50 obras) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (35 obras) · Physical activity (35 obras) · Sociology (29 obras) · Physical therapy (26 obras) · Political science (26 obras) · Public health (26 obras) · Gerontology (24 obras) · Environmental health (22 obras)