IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsoctx/v15y2025i5p117-d1640658.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Physical Activity and Sport in Acculturation Processes in Immigrant Women: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Blanco-Ayala

    (Physical Education and Sports Department, University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain)

  • Roshan Galvaan

    (Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa)

  • Jesús Fernández-Gavira

    (Physical Education and Sports Department, University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain)

Abstract

Acculturation is a key process in the adaptation of immigrant women to their host countries, influenced by social, cultural, and structural factors. Physical activity and sport have been identified as potential tools to facilitate this transition, promoting social inclusion and cultural adaptation. This systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook, analyzed empirical and conceptual studies published in English since 2000 from Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and ERIC. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies examining the relationship between physical activity, sport, and acculturation in immigrant women, while excluding non-empirical research, studies focusing exclusively on men or children, and those published in languages other than English. A total of 17 studies met the eligibility criteria. Thematic analysis revealed four key dimensions: (1) the bidirectional relationship between acculturation and sport participation, (2) gender and cultural barriers, (3) socio-economic and structural determinants, and (4) the impact on health and psychosocial well-being. The review highlights the role of physical activity in fostering social capital and integration while identifying persistent barriers such as cultural norms, economic constraints, and policy limitations. Although findings support the positive impact of these activities, further research is needed to address intersectional challenges and structural inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Blanco-Ayala & Roshan Galvaan & Jesús Fernández-Gavira, 2025. "Physical Activity and Sport in Acculturation Processes in Immigrant Women: A Systematic Review," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:5:p:117-:d:1640658
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/5/117/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/5/117/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kenneth F Schulz & Douglas G Altman & David Moher & for the CONSORT Group, 2010. "CONSORT 2010 Statement: Updated Guidelines for Reporting Parallel Group Randomised Trials," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-7, March.
    2. Juan Carlos Checa & Ángeles Arjona & Montserrat Monserrat & Darío Salguero, 2022. "Leisure Behavior of Young Immigrants in Andalusia (Spain): The Process of Acculturation through Physical Activities and Sport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Salvador Angosto & Jerónimo García-Fernández & Irena Valantine & Moisés Grimaldi-Puyana, 2020. "The Intention to Use Fitness and Physical Activity Apps: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Shawn D. Forde & Donna S. Lee & Cathy Mills & Wendy Frisby, 2015. "Moving towards social inclusion: Manager and staff perspectives on an award winning community sport and recreation program for immigrants," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 126-138, January.
    5. repec:sae:mrxval:v:31:y:1997:i:4:p:975-1008 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Evenson, Kelly R. & Sarmiento, Olga L. & Ayala, Guadalupe X., 2004. "Acculturation and physical activity among North Carolina Latina immigrants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(12), pages 2509-2522, December.
    7. Bjerke, May Britt & Renger, Ralph, 2017. "Being smart about writing SMART objectives," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 125-127.
    8. Forde, Shawn D. & Lee, Donna S. & Mills, Cathy & Frisby, Wendy, 2015. "Moving towards social inclusion: Manager and staff perspectives on an award winning community sport and recreation program for immigrants," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 126-138.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vouzoulias Konstantinos & Koufioti Georgia & Kounios Athanasios & Vlachadi Maria, 2023. "The Inclusion of Sports Educational Activities in A Multicultural Educational Context. A Systematic Review of The Literature," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(4), pages 298-311, April.
    2. Mathieu Marlier & Bram Constandt & Cleo Schyvinck & Thomas De Bock & Mathieu Winand & Annick Willem, 2020. "Bridge over Troubled Water: Linking Capacities of Sport and Non-Sport Organizations," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(3), pages 139-151.
    3. David Ekholm & Magnus Dahlstedt, 2017. "Football for Inclusion: Examining the Pedagogic Rationalities and the Technologies of Solidarity of a Sports-Based Intervention in Sweden," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(2), pages 232-240.
    4. Qiu Chen & Tianbiao Liu, 2020. "The Effectiveness of Community Sports Provision on Social Inclusion and Public Health in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    5. Vandermeerschen, Hanne & Scheerder, Jeroen, 2017. "Sport managers’ perspectives on poverty and sport: The role of local sport authorities," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 510-521.
    6. Mathieu Marlier & Bram Constandt & Cleo Schyvinck & Thomas De Bock & Mathieu Winand & Annick Willem, 2020. "Bridge over Troubled Water: Linking Capacities of Sport and Non-Sport Organizations," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(3), pages 139-151.
    7. Jones, Gareth J. & Edwards, Michael B. & Bocarro, Jason N. & Bunds, Kyle S. & Smith, Jordan W., 2018. "Leveraging community sport organizations to promote community capacity: Strategic outcomes, challenges, and theoretical considerations," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 279-292.
    8. Kumar, Harish & Manoli, Argyro Elisavet & Hodgkinson, Ian R. & Downward, Paul, 2018. "Sport participation: From policy, through facilities, to users’ health, well-being, and social capital," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 549-562.
    9. Ramón Spaaij & Hebe Schaillée, 2020. "Community-Driven Sports Events as a Vehicle for Cultural Sustainability within the Context of Forced Migration: Lessons from the Amsterdam Futsal Tournament," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Salvador Angosto & Hyejin Bang & Gonzalo A. Bravo & Arturo Díaz-Suárez & José María López-Gullón, 2021. "Motivations and Future Intentions in Sport Event Volunteering: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    11. David Ekholm & Magnus Dahlstedt, 2017. "Football for Inclusion: Examining the Pedagogic Rationalities and the Technologies of Solidarity of a Sports-Based Intervention in Sweden," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 5(2), pages 232-240.
    12. Ángel Enrique & Juana Bretón-López & Guadalupe Molinari & Rosa M. Baños & Cristina Botella, 2018. "Efficacy of an adaptation of the Best Possible Self intervention implemented through positive technology: a randomized control trial," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 671-689, September.
    13. Gerben ter Riet & Paula Chesley & Alan G Gross & Lara Siebeling & Patrick Muggensturm & Nadine Heller & Martin Umbehr & Daniela Vollenweider & Tsung Yu & Elie A Akl & Lizzy Brewster & Olaf M Dekkers &, 2013. "All That Glitters Isn't Gold: A Survey on Acknowledgment of Limitations in Biomedical Studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-6, November.
    14. Spyridon N Papageorgiou & Georgios N Antonoglou & George K Sándor & Theodore Eliades, 2017. "Randomized clinical trials in orthodontics are rarely registered a priori and often published late or not at all," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
    15. Eun-Hi Kong & Myoungsuk Kim & Seonho Kim, 2021. "Effects of a Web-Based Educational Program Regarding Physical Restraint Reduction in Long-Term Care Settings on Nursing Students: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    16. Alexis Zickafoose & Gary Wingenbach & Matt Baker & Edwin Price, 2023. "Developing Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.
    17. Stavros Petrou & Oliver Rivero-Arias & Helen Dakin & Louise Longworth & Mark Oppe & Robert Froud & Alastair Gray, 2015. "Preferred Reporting Items for Studies Mapping onto Preference-Based Outcome Measures: The MAPS Statement," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 35(6), pages 1-8, August.
    18. Alexander P. L. Martindale & Carrie D. Llewellyn & Richard O. Visser & Benjamin Ng & Victoria Ngai & Aditya U. Kale & Lavinia Ferrante Ruffano & Robert M. Golub & Gary S. Collins & David Moher & Melis, 2024. "Concordance of randomised controlled trials for artificial intelligence interventions with the CONSORT-AI reporting guidelines," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Maria Giné-Garriga & Carme Martin-Borràs & Anna Puig-Ribera & Carlos Martín-Cantera & Mercè Solà & Antonio Cuesta-Vargas & on behalf of the PPAF Group, 2013. "The Effect of a Physical Activity Program on the Total Number of Primary Care Visits in Inactive Patients: A 15-Month Randomized Controlled Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-8, June.
    20. Nahid Norouzi-Gheidari & Alejandro Hernandez & Philippe S. Archambault & Johanne Higgins & Lise Poissant & Dahlia Kairy, 2019. "Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Exergame System to Supplement Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Post-Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial and Proof of Principle," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:5:p:117-:d:1640658. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.