Hongen Li , Quan Qiu , Li Xiong

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.1.1

Abstract

PURPOSE Although substantial evidence indicates that parental support can enhance physical activity (PA) among adolescents, research on the impact of parental support on PA among university students remains limited. We examined how tangible support (e.g., direct behavioral encouragement) and intangible support (e.g., emotional encouragement) from parents might affect how Chinese university students participate in PA, including the potential mediating roles of leisure satisfaction (LS) and the impact of gender. METHOD Using stratified sampling, we collected data via questionnaire from 936 university students in Guangdong Province (622 men, 314 women). We conducted structural equation modeling analysis, followed by mediation effect analysis and multi-group analysis. RESULT Contrary to previous findings about children and adolescents, findings from the current study show that tangible and intangible parental support did not directly increase PA among university students. The core finding was that LS played a key "bridging" role between parental support and PA. In addition, significant gender differences emerged in the "parental support → LS" pathway, but when LS was high, its effect on PA was equivalent for male and female students. CONCLUSION For university students, who tend to have greater autonomy, parental intervention or demands alone are unlikely to promote exercise. Instead, parents should focus on creating a supportive atmosphere and indirectly promote healthy behaviors by enhancing the psychological satisfaction and positive leisure experiences of their students. The findings emphasize the importance of attending to psychological experiences that enhance the desire to engage in healthy behaviors.

Key Words

Tangible Support, Intangible Support, Leisure Satisfaction, Physical Activity, Gender

Sihong Sui , Ziwei Liang , Wanghui Li , Juzhi Liang , Zhenbo Zhang , Bin Liu

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.1.2

Abstract

PURPOSE This study examines core keywords in athlete mental health research, explores trends over time, and identifies interactions among sub-fields. METHOD NetMiner was used to analyze keyword co-occurrence networks based on 1,139 journal articles published from 1992 to 2024 and available in the Web of Science. Degree and betweenness centrality were used to track keyword importance and evolution. Cohesive subgroup analysis was applied to identify thematic clusters. RESULT Keywords such as "athlete," "health," "sport," "performance," "stress," "anxiety," and "intervention" remained central over 30 years, highlighting key research focuses. While early studies emphasized performance and injury, recent work has shifted toward mental health support and career development, with terms such as "support," "well-being," and "identity" emerging. Six thematic groups were identified: youth development, health risks, identity and career, rehabilitation, support systems, and physical function. CONCLUSION Keyword network analysis reveals the evolving landscape of research on athletes’ mental health. The field has expanded from performance-focused topics to a broader, interdisciplinary emphasis on psychological support and long-term well-being.

Key Words

Athletes’ Mental Health, Research Trend, Keyword Network, Centrality

Sungeun Park , Jaemyun Ko

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.1.3

Abstract

PURPOSE This integrative review synthesized evidence on the metabolic health benefits of moderate- and high-intensity aerobic exercise in obese women and women with normal-weight obesity (NWO), and aimed to delineate response patterns by group characteristics and derive practical implications for intensity-based exercise prescription. METHOD Drawing on randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses involving obese women and women with NWO, we narratively integrated findings across domains of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, central adiposity (waist circumference and abdominal fat), lipid profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness, and supportive biomarkers (adipokines). RESULT Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise served as a foundational prescription, with repeatedly reported evidence linking it to improved insulin resistance and reduced abdominal/visceral fat, alongside high sustainability. High-intensity aerobic exercise―particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT)―accumulated evidence for time-efficient improvements in glucose-related outcomes and VO₂max, and may elicit intensity-sensitive responses in HDL-C. However, the relative superiority of exercise intensity varied according to baseline metabolic status, fat distribution, intervention duration, interval configuration, total exercise dose, and co-interventions. Adipokines, especially adiponectin, exhibited inconsistent changes; therefore, interpreting them as supportive rather than standalone primary endpoints was considered appropriate. CONCLUSION In obese and NWO women, exercise intensity is an important determinant of metabolic health outcomes; however, effective prescription should prioritize individualized program design that integrates target outcomes, baseline risk, total exercise dose and sustainability, and safety―rather than assuming a uniform superiority of a given intensity. In NWO, weight-centered evaluation should be avoided, with priority given to assessments of body composition, abdominal fat, and glucose-related markers; resistance training may be considered when appropriate.

Key Words

Exercise Intensity, Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise, High-Intensity Interval Training Obesity, Normal-Weight Obesity

Kyungsik Kim , Seungil Park

DOI:10.46695/ASCS.7.1.4

Abstract

PURPOSE We aimed to identify the knowledge structure and research trends in the field of sport and gender by examining related articles published in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and Sociology of Sport Journal. METHOD We used keyword network analysis to examine the composition and hierarchy of core keywords with high centrality, and topic modeling to compare the distribution and characteristics of major research topics significantly covered in each journal. RESULT The journals had similar core keywords related to gender; however, differences were observed in the way the keywords were structured and the focus of the analysis. The International Review for the Sociology of Sport highlights structural and relational gender issues such as discourse, equality, challenge, and theory, whereas the Sociology of Sport Journal focuses on institutional and practical issues such as masculinity, race, class, inequality, policy, and norms. Particularly, for topics related to athletes who are women, the International Review for the Sociology of Sport showed a discriminatory tendency to emphasize theoretical relationships, while the Sociology of Sport Journal showed concrete participation and experience. CONCLUSION The journals included articles on common research areas in sport and gender; however, research issues were highlighted differently according to the academic and cultural contexts of each journal. Furthermore, our findings indicate that research on gender in international sport sociology is organized and reproduced across multiple layers within journal-level knowledge production structures, rather than converging in a single direction.

Key Words

Sport and Gender Studies, IRSS, SSJ, Keyword Network Analysis, Topic Modeling