449 Culturally and regionally relevant physical activity workshop: building impactful global public health promotion activities for immigrant and migrant communities

Abstract WKS 42: Culturally and Regionally Relevant Physical Activity Workshop: Building Impactful Global Public Health Promotion Activities for Immigrant and Migrant Communities, B307 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 10:15 - 11:15 Culturally and Regionally Relevant Physical Activity Workshop: Building Impactful Global Public Health Promotion Activities for Immigrant and Migrant Communities University of Hawai‘i, USAUniversity of California, Los Angeles, USAInstitute of Public Health, AlbaniaSouthern California University of Health Sciences, USA Culturally and regionally relevant physical activity (CRRPA), including ethnic dance and traditional sports, has a strong and growing evidence base around the value to health across multiple dimensions, including chronic disease prevention, social connectedness, mental health, and healthy aging. CRRPA interventions are particularly meaningful to communities away from their homelands, providing evidence-based opportunities to build new connections, retain deep ties to places of origin, and increase physical activity in populations who often have lower participation rates. This workshop shares existing knowledge and innovative new evidence on CRRPA for global public health promotion then supports participants’ application in their communities. This workshop has five parts. First, we share highlights from an ongoing evidence synthesis on CRRPA by a multinational group of experts, showcasing in particular the evidence regarding migrant and immigrant communities. This includes a conceptual model (with dimensions of location and culture) providing a framework to illuminate important invention components and to support hypothesis-driven research and practice. Second, the application of this topic will be considered with a focus on the Armenian context/diaspora using the conceptual model. Third, this topic will be considered on immigration within and from Albania using the conceptual model. Fourth, using the conceptual model, participants will brainstorm and apply these ideas to their contexts and communities. Fifth: A moderated discussion will synthesize participant insights, questions, and applications to support public health promotion with CRRPA in research, policy, and practice. This workshop will share knowledge and evidence supporting CRRPA across multiple health dimensions guided by conceptual models and with practical examples from two distinct contexts. Participants will apply these ideas to their communities in concordance with the World Health Organization emphasis on the importance of cultural and regional insights for health.