A Mixed-Methods Study of Women's Empowerment through Physical Activities: Relationships with Self-Efficacy and Physical Activity Levels

Participation in empowering physical activities may increase self-efficacy and facilitate long-term engagement. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the relationship between physical activity empowerment, exercise self-efficacy, and engagement. Midwestern women (N = 147) aged 18-65, 90% white, completed an online cross-sectional survey that captured exercise engagement and self-efficacy for exercise. Participants entered up to five types of physical activities and ranked them from most to least empowering. Physical activities were coded by training type for statistical comparisons using independent t-tests. After survey completion, seventeen women completed a 30 min, 8-question semi-structured interview. Women ranked resistance training as the most empowering physical activity type (38%), followed by running (14%). Total and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and self-efficacy for exercise scores did not vary between women empowered by cardiorespiratory or resistance training (i.e., total physical activity t(136) = 1.13, p = 0.11; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity t(136) = 2.42, p = 0.06; and self-efficacy for exercise t(136) = 0.66, p = 0.07). Themes identified from the interviews included: (1) women's physical activity participation barriers are gender-centric, (2) physical activity participation benefits extend beyond physical health, (3) some exercise types are more empowering than others, and (4) empowerment and enjoyment are closely related. Exploring empowerment in exercise may reveal mechanisms to facilitate exercise self-efficacy and engagement in physical activity.

Current and Future Trends in Strength and Conditioning for Female Athletes

Participation by female athletes in competitive sport has increased dramatically since the inception of Title IX, although female athletes are represented significantly less than their male counterparts in strength and conditioning (S&C) literature. This is apparent when examining current identified trends in the field, such as implementation of blood flow restriction (BFR) training, functional assessments to predict injuries, or the ever-increasing use of technology in sports. The aim of this review is to examine three prevalent trends in contemporary S&C literature as they relate to female athletes in order to expose areas lacking in research. We conducted journal and database searches to progressively deepen our examination of available research, starting first with broad emerging themes within S&C, followed next by an inquiry into literature concerning S&C practices in females, ending finally with a review of emerging topics concerning female athletes. To this end, 534 articles were reviewed from PubMed, Academic Search Complete, Google Scholar, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Results demonstrate the utility of implementing BFR, functional movement assessments, and various technologies among this population to expand representation of female athletes in S&C literature, improve athletic capabilities and performance, and decrease potential for injury over time.