Relationship between internalised homophobia and physical activity A scoping review
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Abstract
Background: Internalised homophobia (IH) appears to be a main factor limiting the experience of being oneself for sexual minority people. Previous qualitative studies suggested that sport participation could induce IH. However, the relationship between the IH and engagement and/or adherence to physical activity (PA) remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to explore the relationship between PA and IH, focusing on quantitative researches. Method: studies must be peer-reviewed articles, include quantitative measures of internalised homophobia and the PA variable, and relate these two variables in their analyses. Papers were identified through online databases and were selected after reading the Methods and Results sections of the text. Results: nine articles were included. Results regarding the effect of PA experience on IH did not show a significant association. Results regarding the IH as a factor in specific forms of PA did not show a significant predictive effect. Finally, studies on the IH as a factor in PA participation are not unanimous, but an indirect effect of the IH on PA participation emerged. Conclusion: Given the limited number of studies and their heterogeneous aims and outcomes, the results of this scoping review should be carefully considered. Nevertheless, this scoping review raises some interesting research questions and could serve as a starting point for future research.
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