Investigating the impact of a novel movement behavior program for refugee youths in Canada: the IPLAY program

Physical literacy (PL) is considered to be a multidimensional concept that includes the core domains of movement competence, confidence, motivation, and knowledge and understanding related to regular participation in physical activity (PA). The Immigrant-focused Physical Literacy for Youth (IPLAY) program was an 8-week initiative designed for newcomer youth that took place in the Fall of 2022 and Winter of 2023. This study examined the potential impact of the IPLAY program on PL development among newcomer youth.

Participants for the current study included a total of 38 refugee youths (M _age = 14.84, n = 22 males and 16 females) between the ages of 12-17 years and recent arrivals to Canada (76% having moved to Canada within the past 12 months). Measures of PL included an observed assessment of movement competence (PLAYbasic), along with PLAYself as self-reported assessments of confidence, motivation and knowledge and understanding.

Overall, results found that PA levels (p = 0.03) and overall movement competence (p = <.001) significantly increased by the end of the intervention. Whilst there were increases in other domains of PL, they were not found to be statistically significant.

Overall, the present study is encouraging, providing initial support for community-based programs to aid in the PL development among newcomer youths to Canada. Future trials with larger and more diverse samples of newcomers are needed to further demonstrate the efficacy of PL-based programs such as IPLAY.