ArticleHealth research policy and systems2022
The understanding, application and influence of complexity in national physical activity policy-making.
Article in Health research policy and systems, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Community physical activity environments and physical activity levels among older adults: a hierarchical analysis of environmental dimensions.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Outline: The Long-Term Impact of Exercise on Adolescent Growth and Development.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2026Review
- A systems thinking approach for examining the turning points in the Finnish public sport policy.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- Young people's experiences of physical activity insecurity: a qualitative study highlighting intersectional disadvantage in the UK.BMC public health · 2024Article
- A scoping review of complex systems methods used in population physical activity research: do they align with attributes of a whole system approach?Health research policy and systems · 2023Article
- A scoping review of systems approaches for increasing physical activity in populations.Health research policy and systems · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundComplexity theory and systems-thinking are increasingly popular in physical activity (PA) research and policy discourse. The impact of this perspective shift, across many sectors, may be underwhelming. We explore why, by focusing on how these concepts are understood and applied by PA policy-makers. This is of particular interest given the challenges of multisectoral interest and poorly defined stakeholder boundaries that are associated with PA promotion. In this study, we critique key elements of complexity theory and consider how it is understood and put into practice in PA policy-making.
methodsWe adopted a complex realist position. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with national-level policy-makers from United Kingdom government settings (five civil servants, three politicians, two policy advisors). An inductive thematic analysis was conducted, and managed with NVivo 10 software.
resultsThree overarching themes were constructed to reflect policy-makers' uncertainty about complexity and the application of such perspectives to this policy space, their sense that PA was an unexceptionable yet unclaimed policy issue, and their desire for influence and change. Participants discussed complexity in contrasting ways. Its meaning was context-dependent and dynamic, which generated uncertainty about applying the concept. Participants also perceived an increasingly diverse but ill-defined PA policy system that spans the domains of expertise and responsibility. Collaborative practices may contribute to a previously unobserved sense of detachment from the systems' complexity. Nevertheless, participants suggested potentially effective ways to stimulate system change, which require passionate and enterprising leadership, and included varied evidence use, a focus on localised implementation and different ways to connect people.
conclusionsThis research highlighted the importance of extending complexity theory and systems-thinking. While emphasizing the prevalence of these ideas across the PA sector, there is uncertainty as to their meaning and implications. This may prevent their use in ways that enhance PA policies and programmes. Participants conceptualised PA as a tool, which was imposed on the system. While this may support participative decision-making and localised implementation, further research is needed to understand how local systems foster leadership, the practical application of complexity and systems-thinking, and how to support system-wide change in the development and implementation of PA policies.
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