Improving the physical and mental well-being of typically hard-to-reach men: an investigation of the impact of the Active Rovers project

Abstract

Strong associations exist between physical activity (PA) levels and incidence morbidity and mortality. Evidence suggests that PA levels decline with age but incidence of sedentary behaviour is high. This paper examines the effectiveness of a PA intervention hosted by a professional football club. It explores the impact of the intervention upon mental well-being, health perceptions, and lifestyle knowledge in men often classed as hard-to-reach (HTR). Data were collected through a shortened version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and a longitudinal self-report questionnaire. Pre- and post-intervention changes were determined by a Wilcoxon signed rank test (p  <  .05). Data indicated that the intervention was successful in improving aspects of mental well-being amongst the male client group. The qualitative findings revealed a less successful transfer from the intervention to more casual PA engagement. Professional football clubs appear to be appropriate environments to promote physical and mental well-being. However, behaviour change away from the football club was less obvious, suggesting further research in this area is required.