PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Understanding Shedders: Which Sociodemographic, Health and Wellbeing Characteristics Best Inform Appropriate Health Promotion Action and A ‘Shed for Life’?
Version 1
: Received: 8 March 2022 / Approved: 9 March 2022 / Online: 9 March 2022 (09:36:03 CET)
How to cite:
McGrath, A.; Murphy, N.; Egan, T.; Ormond, G.; Richardson, N. Understanding Shedders: Which Sociodemographic, Health and Wellbeing Characteristics Best Inform Appropriate Health Promotion Action and A ‘Shed for Life’?. Preprints2022, 2022030128. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202203.0128.v1
McGrath, A.; Murphy, N.; Egan, T.; Ormond, G.; Richardson, N. Understanding Shedders: Which Sociodemographic, Health and Wellbeing Characteristics Best Inform Appropriate Health Promotion Action and A ‘Shed for Life’?. Preprints 2022, 2022030128. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202203.0128.v1
McGrath, A.; Murphy, N.; Egan, T.; Ormond, G.; Richardson, N. Understanding Shedders: Which Sociodemographic, Health and Wellbeing Characteristics Best Inform Appropriate Health Promotion Action and A ‘Shed for Life’?. Preprints2022, 2022030128. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202203.0128.v1
APA Style
McGrath, A., Murphy, N., Egan, T., Ormond, G., & Richardson, N. (2022). Understanding Shedders: Which Sociodemographic, Health and Wellbeing Characteristics Best Inform Appropriate Health Promotion Action and A ‘Shed for Life’?. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202203.0128.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
McGrath, A., Gillian Ormond and Noel Richardson. 2022 "Understanding Shedders: Which Sociodemographic, Health and Wellbeing Characteristics Best Inform Appropriate Health Promotion Action and A ‘Shed for Life’?" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202203.0128.v1
Abstract
Abstract Issue Addressed: Men’s Sheds (‘Sheds’) have been identified as inherently health promoting and as potential settings to engage ‘hard-to-reach’ men in more structured health promotion initiatives. However, little is known about the sociodemographic or health and wellbeing characteristics of Shed members (‘Shedders’) on which such initiatives might be based. This study captures a baseline cross sectional analysis of Shedders (n=384) who participated in ‘Sheds for Life’, a health promotion initiative tailored to Sheds. Methods: Objective health measure, (body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids) captured via health screening as well as sociodemographic and health and wellbeing measures (physical activity, subjective wellbeing, mental health, social capital, cooking and diet) via questionnaires were assessed. Results: Participants were mostly over 65 years, retired with limited educational attainment. The majority were in the ‘at-risk’ categories for objective health measures, with most being referred to their GP following health screening. Older Shedders were also more likely to meet physical activity guidelines. Mental wellbeing was positively correlated with life satisfaction and increased social capital and these were also positively correlated with physical activity. Conclusions: Findings highlight the potential of Sheds in reaching a ‘hard-to-reach’ and ‘at-risk’ cohort of men. Despite a high prevalence of ‘at-risk’ objective health measures, participants report their health in positive terms. Future health promotion initiatives should capitalise on the inherent health promoting properties of Sheds. So what? Findings raise important implications for prioritising and designing health promotion initiatives in Shed settings.
Keywords
men's sheds; men's health; health promotion; evaluation; community based health promotion; physical activity
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
