Academic Edi o : José Ca melo
Adsua
Recei ed: 7 Ma ch 2025
Re ised: 15 Ap il 2025
Accep ed: 18 Ap il 2025
Published: 23 Ap il 2025
Ci a ion: Blanco-Ayala, A.; Gal aan,
R.; Fe nández-Ga i a, J. Physical
Ac i i y and Spo in Accul u a ion
P ocesses in Immig an Women: A
Sys ema ic Re iew. Socie ies 2025,15,
117. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/
soc15050117
Copy igh : © 2025 by he au ho s.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Swi ze land.
This a icle is an open access a icle
dis ibu ed unde he e ms and
condi ions o he C ea i e Commons
A ibu ion (CC BY) license
(h ps://c ea i ecommons.o g/
licenses/by/4.0/).
Sys ema ic Re iew
Physical Ac i i y and Spo in Accul u a ion P ocesses in
Immig an Women: A Sys ema ic Re iew
Ana Blanco-Ayala 1, Roshan Gal aan 2and Jesús Fe nández-Ga i a 1,*
1Physical Educa ion and Spo s Depa men , Uni e si y o Se ille, 41013 Se ille, Spain; [email p o ec ed]
2Depa men o Heal h and Rehabili a ion Sciences, Uni e si y o Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, Sou h A ica;
[email p o ec ed]
*Co espondence: [email p o ec ed]; Tel.: +34-679-897-461
Abs ac : Accul u a ion is a key p ocess in he adap a ion o immig an women o hei hos
coun ies, in luenced by social, cul u al, and s uc u al ac o s. Physical ac i i y and spo
ha e been iden i ied as po en ial ools o acili a e his ansi ion, p omo ing social inclusion
and cul u al adap a ion. This sys ema ic e iew, ollowing he PRISMA guidelines and he
Coch ane Handbook, analyzed empi ical and concep ual s udies published in English since
2000 om Scopus, Web o Science, SPORTDiscus, and ERIC. Inclusion c i e ia encompassed
s udies examining he ela ionship be ween physical ac i i y, spo , and accul u a ion in
immig an women, while excluding non-empi ical esea ch, s udies ocusing exclusi ely
on men o child en, and hose published in languages o he han English. A o al o
17 s udies me he eligibili y c i e ia. Thema ic analysis e ealed ou key dimensions:
(1) he bidi ec ional ela ionship be ween accul u a ion and spo pa icipa ion, (2) gende
and cul u al ba ie s, (3) socio-economic and s uc u al de e minan s, and (4) he impac
on heal h and psychosocial well-being. The e iew highligh s he ole o physical ac i i y
in os e ing social capi al and in eg a ion while iden i ying pe sis en ba ie s such as
cul u al no ms, economic cons ain s, and policy limi a ions. Al hough indings suppo
he posi i e impac o hese ac i i ies, u he esea ch is needed o add ess in e sec ional
challenges and s uc u al inequali ies.
Keywo ds: physical ac i i y; spo ; immig an ; women; accul u a ion; assimila ion;
inclusion; in eg a ion
1. In oduc ion
1.1. Immig a ion and Accul u a ion
Mig a ion, an e e -g owing global phenomenon, b ings wi h i mul iple challenges
o immig an women, who ace cul u al, social, and economic ba ie s in he p ocess o
adap ing o new en i onmen s [
1
,
2
]. In his con ex , he concep o accul u a ion has been
de ined as a mul idimensional p ocess in ol ing he in e ac ion be ween cul u al p ac ices,
alues, and iden i ica ions om bo h he he i age cul u e and he ecei ing cul u e [
3
].
Howe e , con empo a y deba es in mig a ion s udies call o a mo e c i ical pe spec i e ha
in e oga es hese adi ional amewo ks. C i ics a gue ha such models o en o e look
he in luence o s uc u al inequali ies, colonial legacies, and powe dynamics ha shape
mig a o y expe iences [
4
,
5
]. This p ocess is no s a ic bu a he dynamic and e ol ing o e
ime, cha ac e ized by ansi ions ha may inc ease suscep ibili y o a ious isk ac o s [
6
].
Addi ionally, accul u a ion en ails modi ica ions in belie s, a i udes, alues, and beha io s
esul ing om con inuous con ac be ween cul u al g oups [
7
]. F om a psychological and
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/soc15050117
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 2 o 23
sociocul u al pe spec i e, i is also unde s ood as a p ocess o cul u al and psychological
change ha a ises om ongoing in e ac ion be ween indi iduals o di e en cul u al back-
g ounds [8]. These de ini ions highligh he complexi y o he phenomenon, emphasizing
i s dynamic na u e and i s impac on mul iple dimensions o immig an s’ li es. O e he
las decades, he e has been ex ensi e esea ch on how a ious ac o s in luence his p ocess,
highligh ing he impo ance o pa icipa ion in communi y and cul u al ac i i ies [2,9].
Wi hin he accul u a ion p ocess, a ious s a egies a e iden i ied ha e lec how
indi iduals in e ac wi h he majo i y cul u e while main aining, o a g ea e o lesse
ex en , hei o iginal cul u al iden i y [
10
,
11
]. These s a egies include assimila ion, in
which immig an s p edominan ly adop he alues, no ms, and p ac ices o he hos
socie y; in eg a ion, which in ol es a balance be ween adop ing elemen s o he new
cul u e and p ese ing one’s own cul u al iden i y; and ma ginaliza ion, cha ac e ized by
disconnec ion om bo h he cul u e o o igin and he hos socie y [10,12]. Howe e , hese
s a egies ha e been c i icized o hei indi idualis ic app oach, which ames accul u a ion
as a pe sonal choice made by immig an s wi hou conside ing he b oade sociopoli ical
and s uc u al ac o s ha shape hese p ocesses [
4
]. Aspec s such as mig a ion policies,
s uc u al disc imina ion, and exclusiona y dynamics can signi ican ly in luence he ac ual
possibili ies o in eg a ion o ma ginaliza ion [
13
], unde sco ing he need o a mo e
c i ical amewo k ha acknowledges bo h indi idual agency and sys emic cons ain s [
5
].
In his amewo k, social inclusion is posi ioned as a key objec i e, de ined by he
ac i e and equi able pa icipa ion o immig an women in he social, cul u al, and economic
sphe es o hei communi ies. This p ocess no only p omo es a sense o belonging and
social cohesion bu also acili a es he educ ion o s igmas and ba ie s, enhancing hei
empowe men [
1
]. Howe e , achie ing meaning ul inclusion and in eg a ion canno be
unde s ood solely as he esul o indi idual agency, as i is deeply in luenced by s uc u al
inequali ies, sys emic disc imina ion, and his o ical powe dynamics ha shape access
o oppo uni ies and igh s [
14
,
15
]. Add essing hese complexi ies equi es in e en ions
ha challenge exclusiona y p ac ices, p omo e mu ual espec and cul u al ecip oci y, and
acknowledge he ole o mig a ion policies and socio-economic s uc u es in main aining
o educing dispa i ies [15].
Beyond hese heo e ical amewo ks, con empo a y mig a ion policies and public dis-
cou ses on in eg a ion o en oscilla e be ween assimila ionis and in e cul u al app oaches,
shaping how immig an women expe ience accul u a ion. While some policies emphasize
he unila e al adap a ion o mig an s o he hos socie y, equen ly h ough es ic i e
egula ions on cul u al exp essions such as eligious d ess codes in spo s se ings [
16
],
o he s p omo e in e cul u al dialogue and mu ual adap a ion. Howe e , a p e ailing issue
in mig a ion s udies is he endency o ocus on indi idual agency while o e looking he
s uc u al de e minan s ha in luence accul u a ion p ocesses [
17
]. Fac o s such as spa ial
seg ega ion, p eca ious employmen , and ins i u ionalized disc imina ion signi ican ly
cons ain immig an s’ oppo uni ies o engage in physical ac i i y and spo s [
18
,
19
]. Rec-
ognizing hese sys emic ba ie s is essen ial o mo e beyond a beha io al app oach ha
places he esponsibili y o in eg a ion solely on immig an women and ins ead ad oca es
o policies ha add ess he oo causes o exclusion. This pe spec i e will guide he p esen
e iew, emphasizing he need o conside bo h indi idual agency and sys emic cons ain s
when analyzing he ole o physical ac i i y and spo in accul u a ion p ocesses.
These di e gen app oaches o accul u a ion— anging om assimila ionis policies
ha demand one-way adap a ion o in e cul u al and mul idimensional pe spec i es ha
ecognize he luid and ecip ocal na u e o mig a ion—a e summa ized in Table 1.
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 3 o 23
Table 1. Di e en app oaches o accul u a ion.
Assimila ionis App oach In e cul u al App oach Mul i-Dimensional App oaches
P io i ises one-way adap a ion Encou ages wo-way nego ia ion
Recognises mig a ion as a dynamic and
ans o ma i e p ocess ha eshapes
bo h mig an s and hos socie ies
Example: bu kini es ic ions [16]Example: Mul icul u alism, Spo and
Physical Ac i i y wo kshop [20]
Example: T ansna ional spo ne wo ks
and mig an communi y
ini ia i es [19,21]
Sou ce: own elabo a ion.
1.2. Physical Ac i i y and Spo as Tools o Accul u a ion
Physical ac i i y and spo eme ge as key ools o acili a e social inclusion and accul-
u a ion [
22
]. These p ac ices, in addi ion o p omo ing physical and men al heal h, o e
essen ial oppo uni ies o es ablish social connec ions, lea n cul u al no ms, and s eng hen
he sense o belonging in hei new communi y. Resea ch has shown ha egula phys-
ical ac i i y and spo can imp o e emo ional well-being, os e social in e ac ion, and
lowe cul u al ba ie s [
2
,
22
]. Howe e , scien i ic e idence on he speci ic impac o hese
ac i i ies on accul u a ion p ocesses in immig an women emains limi ed and sca e ed.
P e ious s udies, such as he one by [
23
], iden i ied speci ic ba ie s aced by cul u ally
and linguis ically di e se mig an g oups in Wes e n socie ies o pa icipa e in physical
ac i i ies. These ba ie s include cul u al and eligious belie s, social ela ionships, socio-
economic challenges, and en i onmen al ba ie s, among o he s. On he o he hand,
esea ch such as ha o [
24
] indica es ha pa icipa ion in spo s clubs can os e he social
in eg a ion o people wi h a mig an backg ound in Eu ope. Ac i i ies such as olun ee ing,
pa icipa ion in compe i ions, and eam spo s a e posi i ely associa ed wi h be e social
in eg a ion, highligh ing he ole o spo as a ool o inclusion and accul u a ion.
1.3. Mig an Women: Speci ic Challenges in Accul u a ion and Spo
In pa icula , many immig an women encoun e speci ic challenges ha may limi
hei access o physical ac i i y and spo . These challenges a e o en linked o he pe sis-
ence o adi ional gende oles, language ba ie s, and amily dynamics, especially among
hose coming om socie ies wi h au ho i a ian egimes o highly pa ia chal s uc u es [
25
].
Resea ch has ound ha disc imina ion based on ace and language emains common, and
immig an women’s access o spo s oppo uni ies is es ic ed.
In addi ion, he spa ial and ins i u ional o ganisa ion o spo o en e lec s dominan
cul u al no ms ha exclude o ma ginalise mino i y women, pa icula ly when acili ies
lack p i acy o impose d ess codes ha con lic wi h eligious p ac ices.
To ensu e inclusi e and con ex -sensi i e in e en ions, i is c ucial o conside how
p og ammes can be adap ed o he di e se eali ies o immig an women. This includes
aking in o accoun ac o s such as cul u al backg ound, socio-economic s a us, and age,
which shape access and engagemen in di e en ways ac oss popula ions.
Fo ins ance, low-income immig an women o en ace ime po e y due o o e -
lapping ca e and employmen esponsibili ies, while younge women may expe ience
ensions be ween he expec a ions o hei amilies and he no ms o he hos socie y. These
dynamics unde sco e he impo ance o applying an in e sec ional lens o unde s and
how gende , class, mig a ion s a us, and e hnici y in e ac o c ea e speci ic cons ain s in
di e en con ex s.
Mo eo e , hese challenges a e no only indi idual bu s uc u al, oo ed in policy
gaps, u ban seg ega ion, and unequal access o public esou ces such as anspo a ion o
sa e ec ea ion spaces.
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 4 o 23
1.4. Pu pose
The pu pose o his sys ema ic e iew is o analyse he exis ing li e a u e on he
ela ionship be ween physical ac i i y, spo , and accul u a ion p ocesses expe ienced
by immig an women in di e se socio-cul u al con ex s, wi h he aim o es ablishing a
heo e ical amewo k o guide u u e esea ch and se e as a basis o he design o
p ac ical in e en ions [26,27].
1.5. Objec i es
The objec i es o his sys ema ic e iew a e o iden i y and analyse exis ing s udies
ha explo e he ela ionship be ween physical ac i i y, spo , and accul u a ion p ocesses in
immig an women. Speci ically, he e iew aims o: (1) examine he ou comes epo ed in
p e ious esea ch ega ding he impac o physical ac i i y and spo on social inclusion and
cul u al adap a ion; (2) assess di e ences in accul u a ion expe iences based on a ying
le els o pa icipa ion in hese p ac ices; and (3) include empi ical s udies employing
quali a i e, quan i a i e, o mixed-me hods designs.
The esea ch ques ion guiding his sys ema ic e iew is: “How does pa icipa ion in
physical ac i i y and spo in luence accul u a ion p ocesses in immig an women?”
Finally, his e iew seeks o de e mine he main ba ie s and acili a o s in luencing
immig an women’s pa icipa ion in physical ac i i y and spo , conside ing ac o s such
as cul u al di e ences, gende dynamics, and access o esou ces. Addi ionally, i aims o
iden i y gaps in he exis ing li e a u e and a eas o oppo uni y o u u e esea ch. The
ul ima e goal is o build a p elimina y heo e ical amewo k in eg a ing physical ac i i y,
spo , and accul u a ion, laying he ounda ions o he de elopmen o new ini ia i es and
u he ad ancemen in his esea ch ield.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
This s udy adhe ed o he guidelines desc ibed in he Coch ane Handbook o Sys-
ema ic Re iews o In e en ions [
28
] and ollowed he PRISMA S a emen (P e e ed
Repo ing I ems o Sys ema ic Re iews and Me a-Analyses) [
29
,
30
], ensu ing a igo ous
and anspa en app oach o he e iew p ocess. PRISMA p o ides a s anda dized p o ocol
o conduc ing sys ema ic e iews, which includes clea s ages such as o mula ing he
esea ch ques ion, de ining eligibili y c i e ia, conduc ing a comp ehensi e li e a u e sea ch,
selec ing s udies, ex ac ing and syn hesizing da a, and assessing he isk o bias. I s aim
is o imp o e he quali y, anspa ency, and ep oducibili y o sys ema ic e iews ac oss
disciplines [29,31].
In addi ion, his sys ema ic e iew was designed using he SMART me hodology [
32
],
ensu ing ha he esea ch objec i es we e Speci ic, Measu able, Achie able, Rele an , and
Time-bound. This app oach p o ided a clea and s uc u ed amewo k o iden i ying and
analyzing s udies on he ela ionship be ween physical ac i i y, spo , and accul u a ion
p ocesses in immig an women [
33
]. By adop ing his me hodology, he s udy was able o
es ablish conc e e indica o s o assess he esul s, iden i y gaps in he exis ing li e a u e, and
p opose a p elimina y heo e ical amewo k o guide u u e esea ch and in e en ions.
The SMART planning c i e ia ensu ed ha he goals o he s udy we e no only p ecisely
de ined bu also achie able, hus maximizing bo h academic and p ac ical impac .
Fu he mo e, he e iew was s uc u ed ollowing he PICOS model (Pa icipan s,
In e en ions, Compa isons, Ou comes, S udy Design), a amewo k ha guided he o -
mula ion o he esea ch ques ion and he es ablishmen o inclusion and exclusion c i e ia.
Speci ically, he e iew ocused on s udies in ol ing immig an women (Pa icipan s) ha
examined he ole o physical ac i i y and spo in accul u a ion p ocesses (In e en ion),
compa ed di e en le els o pa icipa ion o absence he eo (Compa isons), and e alua ed
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 5 o 23
ou comes such as social inclusion, cul u al adap a ion, well-being, and pe cei ed ba i-
e s. Eligible s udies employed quali a i e, quan i a i e, o mixed-me hod designs (S udy
Design), hus ensu ing a comp ehensi e and in eg a i e app oach o he phenomenon
unde s udy.
This e iew has been egis e ed in 2025 in OSF (Open Science F amewo k), so wa e
specialised in sys ema ic e iews, and can be accessed ia he ollowing link: h ps://os .io/
3w6b /? iew_only=ce293d65c0b14e728a8110a4cc1d700c (accessed on 26 Feb ua y 2025).
2.1. Sea ch S a egy
A comp ehensi e sea ch s a egy was de eloped o iden i y pee - e iewed jou nal
a icles up o Janua y 2025, excluding a icles published p io o 2000. The sys ema ic
e iew ocused on s udies published p ima ily o seconda ily in English in jou nals in-
dexed in Scopus, Web o Science, SPORTDiscus, and ERIC da abases. The las sea ch was
conduc ed on 17 Janua y 2025. No addi ional s udies we e e ie ed h ough di ec con ac
wi h au ho s.
Speci ic keywo ds we e used in he p elimina y sea ch, guided by expe s in he
ield. The inal keywo ds used o he sys ema ic sea ch we e ‘Physical Ac i i y’, ‘Spo ’,
‘Women’, ‘Immig an s’, ‘Accul u a ion’, ‘Assimila ion’, ‘Inclusion’, and ‘In eg a ion’, wi h
he conjunc ion ope a o s ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ used o combine hem. The s udy popula ion
consis ed o immig an women who engage in some o m o physical ac i i y and/o spo .
The ull sea ch s a egy o each da abase is de ailed in Table 2 o ensu e ep oducibili y.
Table 2. Ope a o sea ch p o ocol.
Da abases Combina ion o Keywo ds
Using Ope a o s Fil e s Applied
SCOPUS
(“Physical Ac i i y” OR Spo ) AND
(Immig an ) AND (Women) AND
(Accul u a ion OR Assimila ion OR
Inclusion OR In eg a ion)
A icles only, English,
2000–2025, Fields: Social
Sciences/Spo Sciences
Web o Science
(“Physical Ac i i y” OR Spo ) AND
(Immig an ) AND (Women) AND
(Accul u a ion OR Assimila ion OR
Inclusion OR In eg a ion)
A icles only, English,
2000–2025, Fields: Social
Sciences/Spo Sciences
Spo Discus
(“Physical Ac i i y” OR Spo ) AND
(Immig an ) AND (Women) AND
(Accul u a ion OR Assimila ion OR
Inclusion OR In eg a ion)
A icles only, English,
2000–2025, Fields: Social
Sciences/Spo Sciences
ERIC
(“Physical Ac i i y” OR Spo ) AND
(Immig an ) AND (Women) AND
(Accul u a ion OR Assimila ion OR
Inclusion OR In eg a ion)
A icles only, English,
2000–2025, Fields: Social
Sciences/Spo Sciences
Sou ce: own elabo a ion.
2.2. Inclusion C i e ia
Following he ecommenda ions o p e ious esea ch, his sys ema ic e iew encom-
passed all pee - e iewed concep ual o empi ical pe spec i es. The included s udies
speci ically add essed he ela ionship be ween accul u a ion, physical ac i i y, and spo
among immig an women. Bo h quan i a i e and quali a i e s udies published since 2000
we e conside ed o ensu e a comp ehensi e unde s anding o he opic.
The eligibili y c i e ia we e es ablished ollowing he PICOS amewo k. Rega ding
pa icipan s, he e iew included s udies ocusing on immig an women o any age who
engaged in physical ac i i y and/o spo , as his popula ion aligns wi h he esea ch
objec i es. The in e en ion c i e ion equi ed ha s udies empi ically examine he ole o
physical ac i i y and spo in accul u a ion p ocesses, gi en hei po en ial o os e social
inclusion and cul u al adap a ion. In e ms o compa isons, s udies ha analyzed di e en
le els o engagemen in physical ac i i y o he absence he eo we e included, allowing
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 6 o 23
o a compa a i e app oach o accul u a ion expe iences. The ou comes conside ed in he
selec ion p ocess included social inclusion, cul u al adap a ion, well-being, and ba ie s
o pa icipa ion, which a e in line wi h exis ing esea ch on accul u a ion and spo . Fi-
nally, he s udy design c i e ion encompassed quali a i e, quan i a i e, and mixed-me hod
s udies published om 2000 onwa ds, ensu ing a ho ough assessmen o he a ailable
empi ical e idence.
S udies we e excluded i hey me one o mo e o he ollowing c i e ia: (1) hey we e
published p io o 2000; (2) hey consis ed o edi o ial le e s, sys ema ic e iews, o abs ac
p oceedings; (3) hey we e w i en in a language o he han English, unless a leas he
abs ac was a ailable in English; (4) hey we e no ele an o he esea ch opic; (5) hey
duplica ed p e iously selec ed s udies; o (6) hey made no e e ence o gende , as he ocus
o his e iew is on immig an women.
2.3. Selec ion o he S udies and Da a Ex ac ion P ocess
The a icle selec ion p ocess was ca ied ou in wo s ages. The i s s age consis ed
o sc eening he s udies based on abs ac s and i les, while he second s age consis ed o
a ho ough e iew o he selec ed a icles o ensu e ha he inclusion c i e ia we e me .
Two ex e nal expe s (A.B.A. and J.F.G.) ca ied ou he selec ion and sc eening p ocess
independen ly, wi hou knowledge o each o he . Any disc epancies be ween he wo
e iewe s we e esol ed by a hi d pa y (R.G), who ac ed as a e e ee. A icles ha did no
mee he eligibili y c i e ia we e documen ed and excluded, wi h easons p o ided in he
PRISMA low diag am (shown in Resul s).
Da a ex ac ion was also conduc ed independen ly by wo e iewe s using a s an-
da dized da a ex ac ion o m. The ex ac ed a iables included: s udy design, sample,
in e en ion, and ou comes o he s udy.
2.4. Re iew o he Quali y o he A icles Ob ained and Risk o Bias Assessmen
To assess he me hodological quali y, a ious ins umen s we e used depending on
he ype o s udy. In he case o quali a i e s udies, he S anda ds o Repo ing Quali a i e
Resea ch (SRQR) ool [
34
] was used, consis ing o 21 i ems ca ego ised in o ‘ i le and
abs ac ’, ‘in oduc ion’, ‘me hod’, ‘discussion’, and ‘o he ’.
Fo quan i a i e s udies, he Consolida ed S anda ds o Repo ing T ials (CONSORT)
checklis , ini ially designed by [
35
] and adap ed by o he au ho s [
36
], was applied. This
ool consis s o 20 i ems dis ibu ed in he ca ego ies o ‘ i le and abs ac ’, ‘in oduc ion’,
‘me hod’, ‘ esul s’, ‘discussion’, and ‘o he in o ma ion’.
Finally, in he case o he mixed me hods a icle, a join independen assessmen was
ca ied ou using he wo scales men ioned abo e. Each s udy was sco ed indi idually by
wo e iewe s who assessed di e en sec ions o he s udies and assigned a sco e o 1 i he
s udy me he c i e ia and 0 i i did no . Any disc epancies be ween he e iewe s we e
esol ed by e iewing and discussing he o iginal s udy un il consensus was eached.
Po en ial publica ion bias was assessed by isually inspec ing he dis ibu ion o s udy
indings, and selec i e ou come epo ing was conside ed by compa ing epo ed ou comes
wi h s udy objec i es.
2.5. Thema ic Analysis o Selec ed A icles and Syn hesis o Resul s
In o de o conduc a hema ic analysis o he li e a u e e iewed, ollowing he
app oach ou lined by [
37
], NVi o
®
so wa e was used (h ps://help-n .qs in e na ional.
com/20/win/Con en /abou -n i o/abou -n i o.h m, accessed on 26 Feb ua y 2025). Fo
quali a i e s udies, a hema ic syn hesis was conduc ed o iden i y ecu ing pa e ns.
Fo quan i a i e s udies, desc ip i e s a is ics (means, s anda d de ia ions, pe cen ages)
we e ex ac ed whe e applicable. Resul s we e syn hesized using a na a i e app oach,
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 7 o 23
ca ego izing indings based on hema ic a eas. No me a-analysis o addi ional analyses
(e.g., subg oup o sensi i i y analyses) we e pe o med due o he he e ogenei y o he
included s udies.
3. Resul s
3.1. Flow o he S udy
Based on a sys ema ic e iew o he li e a u e speci ically add essing physical ac i i y
and spo in he accul u a ion p ocesses o immig an women, ollowing he guidelines
p oposed by [
38
], ega ding he inclusion o empi ical, concep ual, and pee - e iewed
a icles, a o al o 316 a icles we e ini ially iden i ied. Among hese, 21 duplica es we e
iden i ied and subsequen ly emo ed. Fu he assessmen o i les and abs ac s led o
he exclusion o a u he 255 a icles. As a esul , 40 a icles emained o de ailed ull-
ex e iew. A e applying he abo e exclusion c i e ia, a o al o 17 a icles me all
speci ied c i e ia.
Following he p e iously es ablished exclusion c i e ia, s udies we e emo ed due o
ac o s such as lack o e e ence o gende , publica ion ype (e.g., edi o ial le e s, sys ema ic
e iews), language, da e, o ele ance o he esea ch opic.
Figu e 1illus a es he PRISMA low diag am o he p esen e iew, depic ing he
p og ession om he ini ial 316 e e ences o he inal inclusion o se en een a icles in
he analysis.
Socie ies 2025, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 o 24
Figu e 1. PRISMA low diag am.
The 17 a icles selec ed o in-dep h analysis ha me all he c i e ia a e as ollows:
[16,20,39–53]
3.2. Analysis o Me hodological Quali y
The analysis o he me hodological quali y o he s udies included in his sys ema ic
e iew made i possible o assess he soundness and anspa ency in he p esen a ion o
he p ocedu es used in each in es iga ion.
Following he epo ing s anda ds p e iously ou lined, he quali a i e s udies
demons a ed an o e all accep able me hodological quali y, wi h sco es anging om 14
o 19 ou o a o al o 21 poin s.
Two s udies [20,48] s ood ou o hei me hodological igou , achie ing sco es o 19
and 18 poin s, espec i ely. These a icles showed no able s eng hs in aspec s such as
cla i y o i le and abs ac , heo e ical jus i ica ion o he s udy, and de ailed desc ip ion
o sampling, da a collec ion, and analysis. They also p esen ed well-documen ed esul s
and a discussion ha adequa ely in e p e ed he indings, while also conside ing hei
limi a ions.
A a second le el o quali y, wi h 16–17 poin s, we e he s udies by [39,44,49,52].
These a icles p esen ed sound me hodologies, albei wi h some limi a ions, such as he
lack o a de ailed discussion o s udy limi a ions. In addi ion, se e al o hem lacked
Figu e 1. PRISMA low diag am.
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 8 o 23
The 17 a icles selec ed o in-dep h analysis ha me all he c i e ia a e as ol-
lows: [16,20,39–53].
3.2. Analysis o Me hodological Quali y
The analysis o he me hodological quali y o he s udies included in his sys ema ic
e iew made i possible o assess he soundness and anspa ency in he p esen a ion o
he p ocedu es used in each in es iga ion.
Following he epo ing s anda ds p e iously ou lined, he quali a i e s udies demon-
s a ed an o e all accep able me hodological quali y, wi h sco es anging om 14 o 19 ou
o a o al o 21 poin s.
Two s udies [
20
,
48
] s ood ou o hei me hodological igou , achie ing sco es o 19
and 18 poin s, espec i ely. These a icles showed no able s eng hs in aspec s such as
cla i y o i le and abs ac , heo e ical jus i ica ion o he s udy, and de ailed desc ip ion o
sampling, da a collec ion, and analysis. They also p esen ed well-documen ed esul s and a
discussion ha adequa ely in e p e ed he indings, while also conside ing hei limi a ions.
A a second le el o quali y, wi h 16–17 poin s, we e he s udies by [
39
,
44
,
49
,
52
]. These
a icles p esen ed sound me hodologies, albei wi h some limi a ions, such as he lack o a
de ailed discussion o s udy limi a ions. In addi ion, se e al o hem lacked in o ma ion on
e hical conside a ions, an essen ial aspec in esea ch wi h human pa icipan s.
The s udies by [
43
,
51
], bo h wi h a sco e o 15 poin s, showed mo e ma ked sho com-
ings, especially in he desc ip ion o he da a collec ion and analysis p ocess, he absence
o explici e hical conside a ions, and he limi ed discussion o s udy limi a ions. Despi e
hese a eas o imp o emen , hese s udies s ill had s eng hs in e ms o cla i y o con ex
and p esen a ion o esul s.
The se en quan i a i e s udies assessed using he CONSORT checklis sco ed be-
ween 12 and 16 ou o a o al o 20 poin s. Two s udies [
41
,
46
] sco ed he highes (16/20),
demons a ing s eng h in he p esen a ion o backg ound, objec i es, desc ip ion o pa ic-
ipan s and se ing, as well as in he de ailed explana ion o he s a is ical me hods used.
In pa icula , Re . [
41
] p o ided a clea desc ip ion o sampling c i e ia and employed
app op ia e s a is ical es s aligned wi h he s udy objec i es, while [
46
] included de ailed
epo ing o a iance and con idence in e als o key ou comes. Howe e , hese s udies
sha ed sho comings in e ms o he jus i ica ion o he sample size and lack o a pa icipan
lowcha , which a ec s anspa ency in he selec ion and e olu ion o he sample analysed.
A he nex le el o quali y (14/20) we e he s udies by [
40
,
42
,
47
,
50
,
53
]. Al hough
hese s udies showed s eng hs in cla i y o objec i es and desc ip ion o measu es and
analyses, hey showed limi a ions in he jus i ica ion o sample size and discussion o
gene alisabili y o esul s, which a e key elemen s in quan i a i e s udies. Fo example,
Re . [
42
] lacked any a ionale o i s sample size, and [
50
] epo ed only basic desc ip i e
s a is ics wi hou linking hem clea ly o he esea ch ques ion. S udy [
53
], while p esen ing
an app op ia e compa ison o subg oups, ailed o speci y he s a is ical assump ions
unde lying i s analysis.
In se e al cases, limi ed adhe ence o CONSORT guidelines was obse ed. Some
s udies, such as [
42
,
50
], did no p o ide comple e in o ma ion on alloca ion p ocedu es o
ec ui men low, and ailed o epo con idence in e als o e ec sizes, which a e essen ial
o in e p e he obus ness o indings. These omissions limi eplicabili y and anspa ency.
The s udies by [
16
,
45
], which used a mixed me hodology, we e e alua ed using bo h
scales. A e a de ailed analysis, Re . [
16
]’s s udy sco ed 18/21 on he SRQR scale and
16/20 on he adap ed CONSORT scale, demons a ing high me hodological quali y in bo h
aspec s. Re . [
45
]’s s udy sco ed 19/21 on he SRQR and 17/20 on he adap ed CONSORT,
also indica ing a igo ous me hodological design. Bo h s udies showed pa icula s eng hs
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 9 o 23
in he desc ip ion o hei me hods and in he p esen a ion o esul s, al hough small a eas
o imp o emen we e iden i ied in he discussion o s udy limi a ions and in he de ailed
explana ion o some quan i a i e p ocedu es.
O e all, quali a i e s udies showed g ea e compliance wi h me hodological qual-
i y c i e ia compa ed o quan i a i e s udies, which had ecu ing sho comings in key
aspec s such as jus i ica ion o sample size and inclusion o pa icipan low diag ams.
None heless, some quan i a i e s udies demons a ed good p ac ices in s a is ical epo ing
and alignmen be ween me hods and objec i es, which should be acknowledged. In he
quali a i e ca ego y, he e was a endency o omi in o ma ion on e hical conside a ions
and esea che e lexi i y.
Po en ial publica ion bias was assessed by examining whe he s udies wi h posi i e
esul s we e o e ep esen ed. No s a is ical me hods (e.g., unnel plo s) we e applied due
o he na a i e na u e o he syn hesis.
3.3. Cha ac e is ics and Resul s o Included S udies
A able (see Table 3) was c ea ed o p esen and acili a e unde s anding o he ollow-
ing in o ma ion om he a icles: (a) gene al de ails o he s udy, including he i le o he
pape , au ho s’ names and yea o publica ion; (b) he ype o me hodology used; (c) gene al
pu pose o he s udy; (d) cha ac e is ics o he sample, such as numbe o pa icipan s, hei
age and backg ound; (e) speci ic de ails o he in e en ion, including me hodology, ools
and ins umen s used o analysis in he s udy; and ( ) he esul s and conclusions ob ained
wi h he in e en ion.
3.4. Thema ic Analysis: O e iew and Main Themes
Following a hema ic analysis o he li e a u e e iewed using NVi o
®
quali a i e da a
analysis so wa e, i e key hema ic a eas ha e been iden i ied ha s uc u e he s udy o
he ela ionship be ween physical ac i i y, spo and accul u a ion p ocesses in immig an
women: (1) accul u a ion and spo pa icipa ion, (2) gende and cul u al ba ie s, (3) socio-
economic and s uc u al de e minan s and (4) heal h and psychosocial well-being.
No me a-analysis was conduc ed due o he high he e ogenei y o he included s udies
in e ms o me hodology, sample cha ac e is ics, and ou come measu es. Ins ead, a hema ic
syn hesis was applied o summa ize key indings. A de ailed desc ip ion o each o hese
hema ic a eas is p esen ed below.
3.4.1. Accul u a ion and Spo Pa icipa ion
The li e a u e e iewed sugges s a bidi ec ional ela ionship be ween he p ac ice
o physical ac i i y and accul u a ion p ocesses. Se e al s udies indica e ha physical
ac i i y and spo con ibu e o accul u a ion by acili a ing in e e hnic in e ac ions and
access o communi y-based spaces o socialisa ion. Fo example, some s udies [
40
,
45
,
51
,
52
]
show how pa icipa ion in spo ing ac i i ies p omo es inclusion and a sense o belonging.
Howe e , o he wo ks [
50
,
53
] wa n ha highe le els o accul u a ion do no always
co ela e wi h g ea e pa icipa ion in physical ac i i y, poin ing o he exis ence o o he
media ing ac o s.
Rega ding he ypes o physical ac i i ies conside ed, he e iewed s udies included
a wide ange o p ac ices. These encompassed ec ea ional and leisu e ac i i ies such as
walking g oups and dance classes [
41
,
51
], s uc u ed spo s like oo ball, baske ball, and
swimming [
16
,
40
,
45
,
52
], and gene al i ness p og ams including ae obic exe cises and gym
aining [
20
,
46
,
50
]. This a ie y e lec s he di e si y o con ex s and p e e ences among
immig an women, as well as he di e ing oppo uni ies o pa icipa ion in hos coun ies.
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 16 o 23
how s uc u al inequali ies and cul u al nego ia ion p ocesses shape di e se pa e ns o
physical ac i i y pa icipa ion among immig an women.
Mo eo e , Re . [
58
] dis inguishes be ween adap a ion o he hos cul u e and he
p ese a ion o he cul u e o o igin, emphasizing ha success ul in eg a ion does no nec-
essa ily equi e ull assimila ion, bu a he a balance be ween bo h dimensions. E idence
sugges s ha women who achie e a balance be ween bo h dimensions [
56
] show g ea e
adhe ence o physical ac i i y, suppo ing he hypo hesis ha cul u al in eg a ion (no
assimila ion) p omo es psychosocial well-being [60].
The ela ionship be ween in eg a ion and well-being is no necessa ily linea o uni e -
sally posi i e. While some immig an women may bene i om inc eased social connec ions
and a sense o belonging, o he s may expe ience signi ican challenges, including iden i y
con lic s, acial disc imina ion, and ins i u ional ba ie s ha limi ull pa icipa ion in
socie y [
5
,
19
]. This e iew ein o ces he impo ance o iewing accul u a ion as a dynamic
and con ex -dependen p ocess a he han a one-size- i s-all model.
Thus, p omo ing physical ac i i y mus go beyond indi idual beha io s and add ess
sys emic ac o s, such as disc imina o y policies, inadequa e access, and socio-economic
inequi ies [
18
,
19
]. Inclusi e p og ams can empowe mig an women, bu only i s uc u al
changes accompany communi y e o s [21].
Cul u ally ailo ed physical ac i i y p og ammes he e o e eme ge as key acili a o s o
pa icipa ion and social in eg a ion, and e idence shows ha in success ul immig an spo
p og ammes such as he one desc ibed by [
61
], ‘cul u al ansla ion’ s a egies and key
p ac ices such as mul iple p omo e s, leisu e access counselling, communi y pa ne ships
and inno a i e ou each s a egies s and ou .
Howe e , s uc u al ba ie s o women eme ge as a de e mining ac o . The pe sis en
lack o ime epo ed by pa icipan s [
49
] e lec s wha [
62
] calls he bu den o in isibili y:
he accumula ion o domes ic wo k, amily ca e and p eca ious jobs ha alls disp opo -
iona ely on women, unde sco ing he need o in e en ions o add ess no only cul u al
di e ences, bu also s uc u al inequali ies ha speci ically a ec immig an women, such
as wo k and domes ic bu dens.
A pa icula ly signi ican inding was he in e sec ionali y o he ba ie s aced by
mig an women. In e sec ional analysis e eals how gende , e hnici y, and mig a ion s a us
in e ac o shape bo h disad an ages and p i ileges, leading o di e gen expe iences.
Re . [
48
]’s s udy o A ghan women in I an illus a es how gende , mig a ion s a us, and
e hnici y in e wine o c ea e mul iple and o e lapping obs acles. These women aced
iple cons ain s—legal, cul u al, and spa ial—in accessing spo s acili ies.
This phenomenon, which is known as ‘laye ed opp ession’ [
63
], is also e lec ed
in [
64
]’s wo k on e hnic disc imina ion in ama eu spo s in Scandina ia, which e ealed
ha such inequali y in he spo ing a ena pe sis s in Sweden despi e inclusi e legal ame-
wo ks. On he o he hand, Tu kish women in Denma k [
54
] engaged in physical exe cise
mos ly h ough e e yday ac i i ies and we e la gely in luenced by hei cul u e, wi hou
spo being a he cen e o hei li es. Howe e , hese indings also challenge adi ional
accul u a ion heo ies, which o en assume ha adop ing elemen s o he hos cul u e
acili a es social inclusion.
As [
65
] a gues, many heo ies o e look s uc u al inequali ies and ely on assimila-
ionis assump ions. Accul u a ion mus be seen as a con ex ual, powe -laden p ocess. Fo
example, policies such as bu kini bans [
16
] show how cul u al no ms can be weaponized
o exclude. In con as , in e cul u al app oaches like hose desc ibed by [
20
] demons a e
he alue o pa icipa o y, wo-way policy dialogue.
While in eg a ion is o en amed as a pa hway o inclusion, in e sec ional analysis
sugges s ha e en when mig an women adop cul u al p ac ices o he hos socie y, hey
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 17 o 23
may con inue o ace sys emic disc imina ion and exclusion. Fo example, ins i u ional
acism, es ic i e mig a ion policies, and socio-economic dispa i ies may limi he eal
oppo uni ies a ailable o pa icipa ion in spo s and o he social ac i i ies [21].
These indings unde sco e he need o mo e beyond an indi idualis ic iew o ac-
cul u a ion and ins ead adop amewo ks ha c i ically examine he ole o s uc u al
inequali ies in shaping he in eg a ion expe iences o mig an women. All o his sugges s
ha hese di e ences a e no only la gely con ex -dependen bu also shaped by he in e -
sec ional iden i ies o mig an women, which in luence hei pa e ns o pa icipa ion in
physical ac i i y and spo . Fo ins ance, ac o s such as legal s a us, e hnic backg ound,
eligious p ac ices, and socio-economic posi ion can ei he acili a e o hinde access o
spo s spaces [
19
,
51
]. This highligh s he need o policies and in e en ions ha ecognize
and add ess he mul idimensional na u e o bo h ma ginaliza ion and p i ilege in spo
and physical ac i i y con ex s.
An addi ional c i ical poin ha eme ged om his e iew is he isk o ein o cing
s e eo ypes and gene aliza ions abou immig an women. As [
17
] a gues, mig a ion s udies
o en cons uc mig an s as an excep ional ca ego y, a he han analyzing hem wi hin
b oade social s uc u es. This me hodological na ionalism ends o po ay immig an
women as a homogeneous g oup, o e looking di e ences in social class, educa ion, and
mig a ion s a us. Fu he mo e, i ein o ces he idea ha challenges such as gende inequal-
i y, p eca ious wo k, and limi ed access o spo s acili ies a e speci ic o mig a ion, a he
han acknowledging hem as sys emic issues ha also a ec non-mig an popula ions.
Following he app oach o me hodological de-na ionalism, u u e esea ch should
mo e away om ea ing immig an women as an isola ed analy ical ca ego y and ins ead
examine hei expe iences wi hin he b oade social ab ic, ecognizing he in e sec ions
o gende , e hnici y, and class beyond mig a ion s a us [
17
]. As [
21
] a gues, mig a ion
esea ch is o en en angled wi h a na ion-s a e epis emology ha cons uc s mig a ion-
ela ed di e ence as a ixed and na u alized ca ego y. This pe spec i e isks ep oducing
he e y inequali ies i seeks o challenge. A “de-mig an icized” app oach would shi he
ocus om mig a ion as an explana o y ac o in i sel owa d a mo e in eg a ed analysis o
social inequali ies and powe s uc u es ha anscend na ional bo de s.
On he o he hand, o he ini ia i es, such as he Mul icul u alism, Spo and Physical
Ac i i y wo kshop desc ibed by [
20
]—whe e dialogue be ween Chinese immig an women
and go e nmen s a was p omo ed o be e unde s and hei needs and adap inclusion
policies— ake a mo e in e cul u al app oach ha encou ages wo-way nego ia ion o no ms
and p ac ices.
Howe e , i is impo an o c i ically examine how “cul u e” is amed in assimila ion
and accul u a ion heo ies. These models o en uni e salize cul u al expe iences and
con la e di e en iden i y in e sec ions, ailing o add ess how powe and p i ilege ope a e
in shaping in eg a ion pa hways [
21
]. A mo e nuanced app oach equi es ecognizing
ha accul u a ion is no a neu al o equal p ocess, bu one deeply in luenced by sys emic
inequali ies and exclusiona y p ac ices.
I is impo an o no e he limi a ions o he li e a u e e iewed. The pauci y o longi-
udinal s udies (only 2 o he 17 e iewed) limi s ou unde s anding o how accul u a ion
p ocesses and physical ac i i y pa icipa ion e ol e o e ime. This gap is pa icula ly
no able gi en ha s udies such as [
66
] on Cambodian e ugee women ha e demons a ed
signi ican changes in heal h and physical ac i i y p ac ices o e decades. Fu u e s udies
should p io i ise longi udinal designs ha cap u e he dynamic na u e o accul u a ion and
i s ela ionship o physical ac i i y pa icipa ion.
In addi ion, u u e esea ch should del e deepe in o in e sec ional analysis, explo ing
how social class, speci ic e hnici y, and mig a ion s a us in e ac o in luence immig an
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 18 o 23
women’s expe iences o physical ac i i y. I would also be aluable o assess he cos -
e ec i eness o di e en ypes o communi y in e en ions, as well as o explo e he po en-
ial ole o non-Wes e n spo s and physical ac i i ies in p ocesses o iden i y nego ia ion
and accul u a ion.
Finally, his pape ea i ms ha physical ac i i y and spo cons i u e a ield o bo h
symbolic and conc e e s uggle whe e iden i ies, belonging, and exclusions a e nego ia ed
in he con ex o emale mig a ion. As [
67
] poin ou , spo and physical ac i i y spaces
a e no simply neu al ools o in eg a ion, bu poli ical a enas whe e he bounda ies o
ci izenship and cul u al belonging a e con es ed and ein en ed. In his sense, hese spaces
can be unde s ood as “ hi d spaces” [
68
], which a e hyb id zones whe e cul u al meanings
and iden i ies a e no ixed bu cons an ly enego ia ed. The no ion o he hi d space
highligh s how immig an women, a he han passi ely assimila ing o esis ing, ac i ely
cons uc new o ms o belonging h ough pa icipa ion in spo s, challenging dominan
na a i es o exclusion.
This pe spec i e emphasizes he in e play o di e en dimensions o ‘sa e spaces’ and
he impo ance o expe imen a ion in he managemen o communi y e en s. Fo hese
spaces o ul il hei po en ial as acili a o s o posi i e accul u a ion and social in eg a ion,
i is c ucial ha policies and in e en ions ecognize and add ess he complex in e sec-
ions o gende , e hnici y, and mig a ion s a us, while os e ing genuine and empowe ing
in e cul u al dialogue.
To conclude, hese indings con i m p e ious s udies highligh ing he ole o spo s
and physical ac i i y in os e ing social inclusion while also exposing pe sis en s uc u al
ba ie s. Unlike p io e iews, his s udy emphasizes he in e sec ionali y o gende ,
mig a ion s a us, and socio-economic condi ions in shaping access o physical ac i i y.
Fu u e esea ch should explo e how na ional spo s policies in luence pa icipa ion a es
and whe he a ge ed in e en ions can educe dispa i ies.
5. Conclusions
The conclusions o his sys ema ic e iew p o ide a comp ehensi e o e iew o he
ole o physical ac i i y and spo in he accul u a ion p ocesses o immig an women.
Th ough he igo ous analysis o he exis ing li e a u e, signi ican indings ha e been
iden i ied ha suppo he impo ance o hese ac i i ies as ools o acili a e social inclusion
and cul u al adap a ion o his g oup.
The esul s ob ained sugges ha pa icipa ion in physical ac i i ies and spo s has
a posi i e impac on mul iple aspec s o he accul u a ion p ocess o immig an women.
Spo and physical ac i i y p o ide aluable oppo uni ies o social in e ac ion, acili a ing
he c ea ion o suppo ne wo ks and he de elopmen o a sense o belonging in hos
communi ies. In addi ion, a signi ican imp o emen in he psychological well-being and
sel -es eem o immig an women who egula ly pa icipa e in hese ac i i ies has been
obse ed. These p ac ices se e as an e ec i e means o nego ia ing cul u al no ms and
acqui ing social skills ele an o he new cul u al con ex . Fu he mo e, pa icipa ion
in spo s and physical ac i i ies con ibu es o he empowe men o immig an women,
p o iding hem wi h a space o de elop leade ship and au onomy. These indings a e
consis en wi h p e ious esea ch indica ing ha s uc u ed spo s p og ams enhance social
cohesion and indi idual empowe men [
65
,
69
]. Howe e , compa ed o p e ious e iews,
his s udy highligh s he c ucial ole o in e sec ionali y in shaping access o physical
ac i i y, emphasizing how gende , mig a ion s a us, and socio-economic condi ions in e ac
o in luence pa icipa ion pa e ns.
Howe e , he e iew has also highligh ed impo an ba ie s ha limi mig an
women’s pa icipa ion in hese ac i i ies. These include cul u al and eligious ba ie s,
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 19 o 23
which may es ic pa icipa ion in ce ain physical o spo ing ac i i ies; socio-economic
challenges, such as lack o inancial esou ces and ee ime due o wo k and amily espon-
sibili ies; and language ba ie s, which may discou age pa icipa ion in g oup ac i i ies o
spo s clubs.
I is c ucial ha u u e esea ch speci ically add esses hese ba ie s by de eloping
cul u ally ailo ed in e en ions ha p omo e mig an women’s pa icipa ion in physical
ac i i y and spo . Howe e , hese e o s mus go beyond inclusion and ac i ely engage
mig an women in decision-making p ocesses ega ding spo and physical ac i i y poli-
cies. Ins ead o assuming ixed ba ie s, i is necessa y o c i ically examine how powe
ela ions shape access o hese ac i i ies and how aken- o -g an ed p i ileges de e mine
whose needs and pe spec i es a e p io i ized [
18
,
19
]. This calls o a c i ical applica ion o
in e sec ionali y as an analy ical ool o unde s and how gende , mig a ion s a us, class,
e hnici y, and eligion in e sec in shaping oppo uni ies o pa icipa ion.
In his sense, public policies should no only acili a e access bu also econ igu e
ins i u ional s uc u es o ensu e ha mig an women ha e agency in shaping spo s
p og ams. This includes c ea ing pa icipa o y mechanisms whe e hei oices a e hea d
in he design and implemen a ion o policies, as well as challenging exclusiona y no ms
embedded in spo s ins i u ions. Add essing hese issues om an in e sec ional pe spec i e
will allow o mo e equi able and sus ainable s a egies ha do no me ely in eg a e bu
also ans o m he s uc u es ha pe pe ua e inequali ies.
These insigh s call o mul isec o al policies ha go beyond indi idual-le el in e en-
ions and add ess sys emic inequali ies. Examples include he implemen a ion o publicly
unded spo p og ams in mul icul u al neighbou hoods, he aining o spo pe sonnel in
in e cul u al sensi i i y, and he adap a ion o acili ies (e.g., emale-only imes, cul u ally
app op ia e a i e policies) o mee di e se needs. Addi ionally, collabo a ion be ween local
go e nmen s, ci il socie y o ganisa ions, and immig an associa ions is c ucial o designing
inclusi e and pa icipa o y spo s a egies ha a e g ounded in he li ed expe iences o
mig an women.
Mo eo e , applying a ansloca ional posi ionali y lens can help illumina e how mi-
g an women’s iden i ies a e cons an ly nego ia ed ac oss con ex s and shaped by bo h
he place o o igin and he place o se lemen . This pe spec i e o eg ounds he dynamic
and ela ional na u e o belonging in spo spaces.Simila ly, hi d space heo y in i es us
o concep ualize physical ac i i y se ings as hyb id cul u al a enas, whe e no ms can be
con es ed and ede ined. Recognizing spo no only as a space o in eg a ion bu also o
esis ance and iden i y econs uc ion ein o ces i s c i ical po en ial.
This sys ema ic e iew has con ibu ed signi ican ly o he unde s anding o he
ela ionship be ween physical ac i i y, spo , and accul u a ion in immig an women.
Howe e , a eas o u he esea ch a e iden i ied, such as longi udinal s udies assessing
he long- e m impac o hese ac i i ies on accul u a ion p ocesses, esea ch explo ing
he in e sec ionali y be ween gende , e hnici y and mig a ion s a us in ela ion o spo
pa icipa ion and physical ac i i y, and compa a i e analyses be ween di e en g oups
o immig an women, conside ing a iables such as coun y o o igin, age and leng h o
esidence in he hos coun y. Addi ionally, u u e s udies should adop mixed-me hod
app oaches o in eg a e he dep h o quali a i e esea ch wi h he b oade gene alizabili y
o quan i a i e indings.
Addi ionally, u u e esea ch should c i ically examine he concep ual amewo ks o
accul u a ion and in eg a ion hemsel es. T adi ional models o en p esen hese p ocesses
as unidi ec ional o neu al, wi hou conside ing he powe dynamics, s uc u al inequali-
ies, and exclusiona y mechanisms ha shape hem [
21
,
65
]. S udies adop ing ansna ional
and pos mig a ion pe spec i es could o e al e na i e amewo ks ha mo e beyond as-
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 20 o 23
simila ionis pa adigms and acknowledge he mu ual ans o ma ion o bo h mig an s and
hos socie ies. Expanding esea ch in his di ec ion will con ibu e o a mo e nuanced and
comp ehensi e unde s anding o how physical ac i i y and spo in e sec wi h mig a ion
expe iences beyond con en ional in eg a ion na a i es.
To summa ize, u u e esea ch should ocus on de eloping and e alua ing cul u -
ally ailo ed in e en ions co-designed wi h mig an women o ensu e accessibili y and
e ec i eness while also conduc ing longi udinal s udies o assess how accul u a ion and
physical ac i i y pa icipa ion e ol e o e ime adop ing in e sec ional and mixed-me hod
app oaches o cap u e he complexi y o mig a ion gende and socio-economic s a us in
spo pa icipa ion and in es iga ing policy-le el in e en ions ha acili a e s uc u al
changes in spo s ins i u ions o p omo e inclusi e pa icipa ion.
Finally, his sys ema ic e iew ein o ces p e ious esea ch indings, highligh ing ha
physical ac i i y and spo play a key ole in he accul u a ion p ocesses o immig an
women. These indings unde line he impo ance o in eg a ing hese ac i i ies in o social
inclusion s a egies and in eg a ion policies aimed a his g oup. P omo ing pa icipa ion
in physical ac i i y and spo no only p omo es he heal h and well-being o immig an
women bu also acili a es hei social and cul u al in eg a ion in hos socie ies, hus con-
ibu ing o a mo e inclusi e and cohesi e socie y. F om a policy pe spec i e, ensu ing
equi able access o spo s acili ies, de eloping cul u ally esponsi e physical ac i i y p o-
g ams, and inco po a ing mig an oices in o decision-making p ocesses will be essen ial
s eps owa d os e ing inclusi e and sus ainable pa icipa ion in spo s.
Au ho Con ibu ions: Concep ualiza ion, A.B.-A. and J.F.-G.; me hodology, A.B.-A. and J.F.-G.;
alida ion, J.F.-G. and R.G.; o mal analysis, A.B.-A. and J.F.-G.; in es iga ion, A.B.-A. and J.F.-G.;
da a cu a ion, A.B.-A.; w i ing—o iginal d a p epa a ion, A.B.-A.; w i ing— e iew and edi ing,
J.F.-G., R.G. and A.B.-A.; isualiza ion, A.B.-A.; supe ision, J.F.-G. and R.G.; p ojec adminis a ion,
A.B.-A. and J.F.-G.; unding acquisi ion, A.B.-A. All au ho s ha e ead and ag eed o he published
e sion o he manusc ip .
Funding: This publica ion is pa o he esea ch and applied inno a ion p ojec P omoción de la
P ác ica de Ac i idad Física e Inclusión Social y Acul u ación de Muje es Inmig an es—AFISAMI,
co- unded by he EU—Minis y o Finance and Public Adminis a ion—Eu opean Funds—Regional
Go e nmen o Andalusia—Minis y o Uni e si y, Resea ch, and Inno a ion.
Ins i u ional Re iew Boa d S a emen : No applicable.
In o med Consen S a emen : No applicable.
Da a A ailabili y S a emen : The o iginal con ibu ions p esen ed in his s udy a e included in he
a icle. Fu he inqui ies can be di ec ed o he co esponding au ho .
Acknowledgmen s: We would like o hank he Uni e si y o Se ille o hos ing and suppo ing he
de elopmen o Ana Blanco Ayala’s doc o al hesis, o which his wo k is a pa .
Con lic s o In e es : The au ho s decla e no con lic s o in e es .
Re e ences
1.
Luzes, M.; Pila owsky, E.; Ruiz Con e as, J. Más allá de las F on e as: Es igmas y Desa íos en la In eg ación de las Muje es
Mig an es en Amé ica La ina y el Ca ibe. 2024. [C ossRe ]
2. In e na ional O ganiza ion o Mig a ion (IOM). Wo ld Mig a ion Repo 2023; IOM: Gene a, Swi ze land, 2023.
3.
Schwa z, S.J.; Unge , J.B.; Zamboanga, B.L.; Szapocznik, J. Re hinking he concep o accul u a ion: Implica ions o heo y and
esea ch. Am. Psychol. 2010,65, 237–251. [C ossRe ]
4.
Po es, A.; Rumbau , R.G. Legacies: The S o y o he Immig an Second Gene a ion; Uni e si y o Cali o nia P ess: Be keley, CA,
USA, 2001.
5.
An hias, F. Hie a chies o Social Loca ion, Class and In e sec ionali y: Towa ds a T ansloca ional F ame. In . Sociol. 2013,28, 121–138.
[C ossRe ]
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 21 o 23
6.
Ti zmann, P.F.; Juge , P. The dynamics o accul u a i e change: The po en ial o a de elopmen al pe spec i e in accul u a ion
science. Ad . Psychol. 2024,2, e553629. [C ossRe ]
7.
Se a ica, R. Concep analysis o accul u a ion in Filipino immig an s wi hin heal h con ex . Nu s. Fo um 2011,46, 128–136.
[C ossRe ]
8.
Valencia, E.Y.; Johnson, V. Accul u a ion among La ino You h and he Risk o Subs ance Use: Issues o De ini ion and Measu e-
men . J. D ug Issues 2008,38, 37–68. [C ossRe ]
9.
Zlobina, A.; Basabe, N.; Páez, D. Las es a egias de acul u ación de los inmig an es: Su signi icado psicológico. Re . Psicol. Soc.
2008,23, 143–150. [C ossRe ]
10.
Be y, J.W. Concep ual App oaches o Accul u a ion. In Accul u a ion: Ad ances in Theo y, Measu emen , and Applied Resea ch;
Chun, K.M., O ganis a, P.B., Ma ín, G., Eds.; Ame ican Psychological Associa ion: Washing on, DC, USA, 2003; pp. 17–37.
11.
Be y, J.W. Con ex s o Accul u a ion. In The Camb idge Handbook o Accul u a ion Psychology; Sam, D.L., Be y, J.W., Eds.;
Camb idge Uni e si y P ess: Camb idge, UK, 2006; pp. 27–42.
12.
Sam, D.L.; Be y, J.W. Accul u a ion: When indi iduals and g oups o di e en cul u al backg ounds mee . Pe spec . Psychol. Sci.
2010,5, 472–481. [C ossRe ]
13.
Schneide , J.; C ul, M. New insigh s in o assimila ion and in eg a ion heo y: In oduc ion o he special issue. E hn. Racial S ud.
2010,33, 1143–1148. [C ossRe ]
14.
Johnson, K.R. Sys emic Racism in he U.S. Immig a ion Laws. Ind. Law J. 2022,97, 8. A ailable online: h ps://www. eposi o y.
law.indiana.edu/ilj/ ol97/iss4/8 (accessed on 22 Janua y 2025).
15. Mezzad a, S.; Neilson, B. Bo de as Me hod, o , he Mul iplica ion o Labo ; Duke Uni e si y P ess: Du ham, NC, USA, 2013.
16.
Michalowski, I.; Beh end , M. The accommoda ion o Muslim body p ac ices in Ge man public swimming pools. E hnic and Racial
S udies 2020,43, 2080–2098. [C ossRe ]
17.
Ande son, B. New Di ec ions in Mig a ion S udies: Towa ds Me hodological De-Na ionalism. Compa a i e Mig a ion S udies
2019,7, 1–13. [C ossRe ]
18.
Collins, M.; Haudenhuyse, R. Social Exclusion and Aus e i y Policies in England: The Role o Spo s in a New A ea o Social
Pola isa ion and Inequali y? Soc. Incl. 2015,3, 5–18. [C ossRe ]
19. Spaaij, R. Re ugee you h, belonging and communi y spo . Leis. S ud. 2015,34, 303–318. [C ossRe ]
20.
F isby, W. P omising Physical Ac i i y Inclusion P ac ices o Chinese Immig an Women in Vancou e , Canada. Ques
2011,63, 135–147. [C ossRe ]
21.
Dahinden, J. A Plea o he “De-Mig an iciza ion” o Resea ch on Mig a ion and In eg a ion. E hn. Racial S ud. 2016,39, 2207–2225.
[C ossRe ]
22.
Fe nández-Ga i a, J.; Hue e-Ga cía, Á.; Velez-Colón, L. Vulne able G oups a Risk o Spo and Social Exclusion. J. Phys. Educ.
Spo 2017,17, 312–326. [C ossRe ]
23.
Cape chione, C.M.; Kol , G.S.; Mumme y, W.K. Physical Ac i i y in Cul u ally and Linguis ically Di e se Mig an G oups o
Wes e n Socie y: A Re iew o Ba ie s, Enable s and Expe iences. Spo s Med. 2009,39, 167–177. [C ossRe ]
24.
Nagel, S.; Elmose-Øs e lund, K.; Adle Zwahlen, J.; Schlesinge , T. Social in eg a ion o people wi h a mig a ion backg ound in
Eu opean spo s clubs. Sociol. Spo J. 2020,37, 1–11. [C ossRe ]
25.
Joseph, J.; Taj obehka , B.; Es ada, G.; Hamdonah, Z. Racialized Women in Spo in Canada: A Scoping Re iew. J. Phys. Ac .
Heal h 2022,19, 868–880. [C ossRe ]
26.
Wieland, M.L.; Tiedje, K.; Meie s, S.J.; Mohamed, A.A.; Fo mea, C.M.; Ridgeway, J.L.; Sia, I.G. Pe spec i es on physical ac i i y
among immig an s and e ugees o a small u ban communi y in Minneso a. J. Immig . Mino . Heal h 2015,17, 263–275. [C ossRe ]
27.
Ge be , M.; Ba ke , D.; Pühse, U. Accul u a ion and Physical Ac i i y Among Immig an s: A Sys ema ic Re iew. J. Public Heal h
2012,20, 313–341. [C ossRe ]
28.
Cumps on, M.; Li, T.; Page, M.J.; Chandle , J.; Welch, V.A.; Higgins, J.P.; Thomas, J. Upda ed Guidance o T us ed Sys ema ic
Re iews: A New Edi ion o he Coch ane Handbook o Sys ema ic Re iews o In e en ions. Coch ane Da abase Sys . Re .
2019,10, ED000142. [C ossRe ]
29.
Page, M.J.; Mohe , D.; Bossuy , P.M.; Bou on, I.; Ho mann, T.C.; Mul ow, C.D.; Shamsee , L.; Te zla , J.M.; Akl, E.A.; B ennan,
S.E.; e al. PRISMA 2020 explana ion and elabo a ion: Upda ed guidance and exempla s o epo ing sys ema ic e iews. B .
Med. J. 2021,372, n160. [C ossRe ]
30.
Mohe , D.; Libe a i, A.; Te zla , J.; Al man, D.G.; The PRISMA G oup. P e e ed Repo ing I ems o Sys ema ic Re iews and
Me a-Analyses: The PRISMA S a emen . PLoS Med 2009,6, e1000097. [C ossRe ] [PubMed]
31.
Uni e si y o Leices e . Wha is PRISMA, and why do you need a p o ocol? Lib a y and Lea ning Se ices: 2025. A ailable online:
h ps://le.ac.uk/lib a y/ esea ch-suppo /sys ema ic- e iews/p isma (accessed on 2 Feb ua y 2025).
32. Bje ke, M.B.; Renge , R. Being Sma abou W i ing SMART Objec i es. E al. P og am Plan. 2017,61, 125–127. [C ossRe ]
33.
Söde g en, M.; Hylande , I.; Tö nk is , L.; Sundquis , J.; Sundquis , K. A anging app op ia e ac i i ies: Immig an women’s
ideas o enabling exe cise. Womens Heal h Issues 2008,18, 413–422. [C ossRe ] [PubMed]
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 22 o 23
34.
O’B ien, B.; Ha is, I.; Beckman, T.; Reed, D.; Cook, D. S anda ds o epo ing quali a i e esea ch: A syn hesis o ecommenda-
ions. Acad. Med. 2014,89, 1245–1251. [C ossRe ]
35.
Schul z, K.F.; Al man, D.G.; Mohe , D. CONSORT 2010 S a emen : Upda ed guidelines o epo ing pa allel g oup andomised
ials. BMJ 2010,340, e332. [C ossRe ]
36.
Angos o, S.; Ga cía-Fe nández, J.; Valan ine, I.; G imaldi-Puyana, M. The In en ion o Use Fi ness and Physical Ac i i y Apps: A
Sys ema ic Re iew. Sus ainabili y 2020,12, 6641. [C ossRe ]
37.
Gues , G.; MacQueen, K.M.; Namey, E.E. Applied Thema ic Analysis; SAGE Publica ions: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA, 2011.
[C ossRe ]
38.
T icco, A.C.; Lillie, E.; Za in, W.; O’B ien, K.K.; Colquhoun, H.; Le ac, D.; Mohe , D.; Pe e s, M.D.J.; Ho sley, T.; Weeks, L.; e al.
PRISMA ex ension o scoping e iews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklis and explana ion. Ann. In e n. Med. 2018,169, 467–473.
[C ossRe ]
39.
Cha zopoulos, I. Spo , Mig a ion and In eg a ion in Denma k: Local Poli ical Responses and Policies in Copenhagen. In . J. Spo
Policy Poli ics 2021,14, 53–69. [C ossRe ]
40.
Checa, J.C.; A jona, Á.; Monse a , M.; Salgue o, D. Leisu e Beha io o Young Immig an s in Andalusia (Spain): The P ocess o
Accul u a ion h ough Physical Ac i i ies and Spo . In . J. En i on. Res. Public Heal h 2022,19, 580. [C ossRe ] [PubMed]
41.
Choi, J.; Wilbu , J.; Mille , A.; Szalacha, L.; McAuley, E. Co ela es o Leisu e-Time Physical Ac i i y in Ko ean Immig an Women.
Wes . J. Nu s. Res. 2008,30, 620–638. [C ossRe ]
42.
Choi, J.; Wilbu , J.; Kim, M.J. Pa e ns o Leisu e Time and Non-Leisu e Time Physical Ac i i y o Ko ean Immig an Women.
Heal h Ca e Women In . 2011,32, 140–153. [C ossRe ]
43. Cuad os, P. We Play Too: La ina In eg a ion h ough Socce in he “New Sou h”. Sou heas . Geog . 2011,51, 227–241. [C ossRe ]
44.
E enson, K.R.; Sa mien o, O.L.; Macon, M.L.; Tawney, K.W.; Amme man, A.S. En i onmen al, Policy, and Cul u al Fac o s
Rela ed o Physical Ac i i y Among La ina Immig an s. Women Heal h 2002,36, 43–56. [C ossRe ]
45.
E enson, K.R.; Sa mien o, O.L.; Ayala, G.X. Accul u a ion and Physical Ac i i y Among No h Ca olina La ina Immig an s. Soc.
Sci. Med. 2004,59, 2509–2522. [C ossRe ]
46.
Jönsson, L.S.; Palmé , K.; Ohlsson, H.; Sundquis , J.; Sundquis , K. Is Accul u a ion Associa ed wi h Physical Ac i i y among
Female Immig an s in Sweden? J. Public Heal h 2013,35, 270–277. [C ossRe ]
47.
López, E.B.; Yamashi a, T. The Rela ionship o Educa ion and Accul u a ion wi h Vigo ous In ensi y Leisu e Time Physical
Ac i i y by Gende in La inos. E hn. Heal h 2017,23, 797–812. [C ossRe ]
48.
Phipps, C.; A ouzeh, A.; Pou kiani, M.; O adeh-Moghadam, S.; Sajjadi, N. “I anians on one side, immig an s on he o he !”:
Socio-cul u al cons ain s o spo pa icipa ion amongs A ghan women mig an s and e ugees. Leisu e S ud. 2023,44, 155–168.
[C ossRe ]
49.
Ramos Salas, X.; Raine, K.; Valliana os, H.; Spence, J.C. Socio-Cul u al De e minan s o Physical Ac i i y among La in Ame ican
Immig an Women in Albe a, Canada. In . Mig . In eg . 2016,17, 1231–1250. [C ossRe ]
50.
Yang, K.; La ey, S.C.; S ui be gen, A.; Im, E.O.; May, K.; Kouzekanani, K. Leisu e- ime physical ac i i y among midli e Ko ean
immig an women in he U.S. J. Immig . Mino . Heal h 2007,9, 291–298. [C ossRe ] [PubMed]
51. Walse h, K. Spo and Belonging. In . Re . Sociol. Spo 2006,41, 447–464. [C ossRe ]
52.
Walse h, K. B idging and Bonding Social Capi al in Spo —Expe iences o Young Women wi h an Immig an Backg ound. Spo
Educ. Soc. 2008,13, 1–17. [C ossRe ]
53.
Zan, H.; Fan, J.X. Repo ing mo e bu mo ing less? The complex ela ionship be ween accul u a ion and physical ac i i y among
U.S. adul s. Am. J. Heal h P omo . 2018,32, 446–452. [C ossRe ]
54.
Hacıso ao˘glu, I.; P is e , G. T ansi ions: Li e S o ies and Physical Ac i i ies o Tu kish Mig an s in Denma k. Spo Soc.
2012,15, 385–398. [C ossRe ]
55.
McNeill, L.H.; S odda d, A.; Benne , G.G.; Wolin, K.Y.; So ensen, G.G. In luence o Indi idual and Social Con ex ual Fac o s on
Changes in Leisu e-Time Physical Ac i i y in Wo king-Class Popula ions: Resul s o he Heal hy Di ec ions–Small Businesses
S udy. Cance Causes Con ol 2012,23, 1475–1487. [C ossRe ]
56.
To a , A.; Vik e, E.K.; Gu e, D.M.; Kamins, C.L.; Pi ie, A.; Boulos, R.; Me aye , N.; Economos, C.D. De elopmen o he Li e
Well cu iculum o ecen immig an s: A communi y-based pa icipa o y app oach. J. Immig . Mino . Heal h 2012,14, 18–26.
[C ossRe ]
57.
Cenik, F.; Keilani, M.; Galid, A.; C e enna, R. Fi s Exe cise G oup o Tu kish B eas Cance Pa ien s in Vienna—A Pilo P ojec
o Include Tu kish Mig an s. Disabil. Rehabil. 2019,42, 20–25. [C ossRe ]
58.
Zhou, M. Segmen ed assimila ion: Issues, con o e sies, and ecen esea ch on he new second gene a ion. In . Mig . Re .
1997,31, 975–1008. [C ossRe ]
59.
Bou dieu, P. The Fo ms o Capi al. In Handbook o Theo y and Resea ch o he Sociology o Educa ion; Richa dson, J.G., Ed.; G eenwood
P ess: New Yo k, NY, USA, 1986; pp. 241–258.
Socie ies 2025,15, 117 23 o 23
60.
Be y, J.W. Psychology o Accul u a ion. In Neb aska Symposium on Mo i a ion, 1989: C oss-Cul u al Pe spec i es; Be man, J.J., Ed.;
Uni e si y o Neb aska P ess: Lincoln, NE, USA, 1990; pp. 201–234.
61.
Fo de, S.D.; Lee, D.S.; Mills, C.; F isby, W. Mo ing Towa ds Social Inclusion: Manage and S a Pe spec i es on an Awa d-Winning
Communi y Spo and Rec ea ion P og am o Immig an s. Spo Manag. Re . 2015,18, 126–138. [C ossRe ]
62. Walze , S. Thinking abou he Baby: Gende and Di isions o In an Ca e. Soc. P obl. 1996,43, 219–234. [C ossRe ]
63.
Gladys, N.W.H. Gende S a i ica ion: A S udy o Disc imina ion and Opp ession in Selec ed Communi ies in Nige ia. Acad. Res.
In . 2011,1, 238.
64.
S o m, R.K.; Nessele , C.; Holum, M.; Nygaa d, A.; Jakobsen, T.G. E hnic disc imina ion in Scandina ia: E idence om a ield
expe imen in women’s ama eu socce . Humani . Soc. Sci. Commun. 2023,10, 230. [C ossRe ]
65. Ngo, V.H. A c i ical examina ion o accul u a ion heo ies. C i . Soc. Wo k 2008,9, 1–6. [C ossRe ]
66.
Nelson-Pe e man, J.; Too , R.; Liang, S.L.; G igg-Sai o, D.C. Long-Te m Re ugee Heal h. Heal h Educ. Beha . 2015,42, 6. [C ossRe ]
67.
Jones, G.J.; Taylo , E.; Wegne , C.; Lopez, C.; Kennedy, H.; Pizzo, A. Cul i a ing “Sa e Spaces” h ough a Communi y Spo - o -
De elopmen (SFD) E en : Implica ions o Accul u a ion. Spo Manag. Re . 2021,24, 226–249. [C ossRe ]
68. Bhabha, H.K. The Loca ion o Cul u e; Rou ledge: London, UK, 1994.
69. Collins, P.H.; Bilge, S. In e sec ionali y; Poli y P ess: Camb idge, UK, 2016.
Disclaime /Publishe ’s No e: The s a emen s, opinions and da a con ained in all publica ions a e solely hose o he indi idual
au ho (s) and con ibu o (s) and no o MDPI and/o he edi o (s). MDPI and/o he edi o (s) disclaim esponsibili y o any inju y o
people o p ope y esul ing om any ideas, me hods, ins uc ions o p oduc s e e ed o in he con en .
