Physical literacy in social work: current status and prospects implementation of foreign experience in Ukraine

Aim: To initiate a scholarly dialogue on exploring the potential integration of physical literacy into social work practice and the possibilities for its implementation in helping to support diverse client groups, taking into account the experience of Ukrainian-German cooperation.

Materials and Methods. A review of English-language literature on physical literacy was conducted using three scientometric databases to assess the current research landscape and practical applications of physical literacy within the social domain. Factual information about the target population was gathered via a structured questionnaire. The empirical data were analysed using mathematical and statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS Statistics software, version 19.0.0.

Results: A review revealed a wide range of interpretations of physical literacyin contemporary scientific literature, and common standard characteristics were identified across various cultural and scientific perspectives. In social work, physical literacy is predominantly equated with engagement in physical activity. Consequently, its primary perceived benefit is physical and mental health improvement. The influence of physical literacy on cognitive and social dimensions of well-being is acknowledged to a lesser degree.

Conclusions: Social workers are generally prepared to integrate the concept of physical literacy into their professional practice or are already applying some aspects of it, often without explicitly recognizing them as such. Systemic changes are required to ensure the effective implementation of physical literacy in social work and to achieve a meaningful impact on all dimensions of health. These include improvements to the legislative framework-particularly a revision of workload standards for social work professionals-appropriate training for social workers, increased funding, enhanced material and technical resources, and the adoption of an individualized approach to working with clients.