Call for Papers: Physical Activity and Sport among Youth in Europe

2026-10-27

Physical activity is essential for protecting health, maintaining physical and mental well-being, preventing a wide range of chronic diseases, and contributing to increased life expectancy. Beyond its individual health benefits, physical activity represents an important social determinant of health, as participation in sport and other forms of movement is shaped by broader social, cultural, economic, and institutional conditions. From a sociological perspective, opportunities for regular physical activity are unequally distributed across society, reflecting differences in gender, ethnicity, geographical location, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and access to appropriate sports facilities and recreational opportunities. These inequalities influence not only participation rates but also the types of physical activities individuals engage in, the resources available to sustain participation, and the extent to which the health benefits of physical activity can be realised across different social groups.

At the same time, the acceleration of everyday life, increasing digitalisation, and the growing prevalence of sedentary occupations and leisure activities have contributed to concerns about declining physical activity levels and rising physical inactivity, particularly among children and young people. Screen-based entertainment, digital communication, and changing patterns of education, mobility, and leisure may reduce opportunities for everyday movement and active recreation. These developments are particularly important from a life-course perspective, as physical activity patterns established during childhood and adolescence can influence health behaviours and participation trajectories in adulthood. However, these trends should not be understood solely as the consequences of individual choices: they are also shaped by family resources, school environments, neighbourhood infrastructure, social norms, and the availability and affordability of organised sport. Consequently, promoting physical activity requires more than individual-level interventions; it also calls for institutional and policy measures that reduce structural inequalities and create accessible, inclusive, and sustainable opportunities for movement and sport across different social groups.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions examining physical activity and sport among young people from social, educational, psychological, and ecological perspectives, as well as studies adopting an interdisciplinary approach. It aims to explore the diverse contexts, experiences, inequalities, and societal implications of youth sport and physical activity. Topics of interest, all considered in relation to young people and youth, include but are not limited to:

  • Leisure, physical activity, and sport

  • Physical education and sport in school settings

  • Social inequalities in physical activity and sport

  • Sport, race, and ethnicity

  • Sport, the body, and gender

  • Sport, migration, and forced migration

  • Social inclusion and exclusion in and through sport

  • Physical activity, sport, and health

  • Sport, colonialism, nations, and identities

  • Sport for development and peace

  • Methodological and empirical challenges in sport and physical activity research

  • Esports, traditional and digital media, and gamification

  • Sport, activism, and social movements

  • Sport events, spectatorship, and fandom

  • Extremism in sport

We particularly encourage contributions that critically examine how social structures, educational environments, psychological processes, and ecological conditions shape young people's participation in sport and physical activity, as well as the ways sport can contribute to or challenge broader social inequalities and transformations.

Submission deadline: 28 February 2027

Submission guidelines:
https://ycee.uken.krakow.pl/about/submissions

Guest Editors

Klára Kovács-Nagy, PhD, habil.
University of Debrecen
kovacs.klara@arts.unideb.hu

Giovanna Russo, PhD
University of Bologna
giovanna.russo6@unibo.it