This project focusses on an active lifestyle during three important transition in life:
- Children transitioning from primary to secondary education: this transition coincides with a new school, new classmates and friends, more responsibilities (like homework), and the start of puberty. This may influence they way children perceive sport and exercise, and reduces an active lifestyle.
- Adolescents starting on the job market: A first serious job usually leads to less free time, less autonomy over how to fill time and more taxing and tiring work. It also creates a new social network of colleagues and supervisors who may promote or hinder an active lifestyle.
- Working people having their first child: With parenthood come new priorities, restrictions on free time and a new social network of other parents. These changes can lead to a less - or different - active lifestyle.
In addition, one project focuses entirely on the role of-and changes in-the social network in encouraging physical activity.
In the research, facilitators and barriers are identified and taken as a starting point to promote an active lifestyle. The focus here is on the role of the social network, but also the influence of individual factors (motor skill, preferences, motivation, socioeconomic status), the neighborhood, institutions and sports organizations is examined. The studies address theoretical questions as well as questions from sport and exercise practice. The research findings are applied so that a bridge can be built between science and practice.
The research has a unique interdisciplinary character. Insights from pedagogical sciences, sociology, psychology and data science are combined. The research also involves other knowledge institutes and numerous societal partners.
