Participants and procedures
MAY, RECRUITMENT
The present analyses are part of a larger pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT)Participants were eligible if they met the following inclusion criteria: (a) living in the selected refugee camp, (b) 16–59 years old, (c) able to read in English, Arabic, Farsi, or French, and (d) provided written informed consent. The focus of the present study was on older adolescents and adults. Minors (children and younger adolescents < 16 years) were excluded to ensure cognitive understanding of the items included in the psychological questionnaires. Older adults (> 60 years of age) were excluded to facilitate the implementation of the intervention due to decreasing fitness among elderly peopleThe screening, recruitment, and data assessment took place in May 2021 by the research team together with 10 trained research assistants who were familiar with the residents' cultural background and the camp's contextual setting. Both written and verbal information were given to the participants in their native languages, and participants provided written informed consent before the first data assessment. All participants were assured that participation is voluntary, and that withdrawal is possible at any time without any disadvantages, particularly with regard to the asylum process. The 10 research assistants were recruited from the camp population and had to be diverse in sociodemographic background (sex and origin) and fluent in English and one of the other languages used in the study. Research assistants received training on the study's purpose and the practical and theoretical elements of data collection and translation (e.g., verbatim translation and confidentiality). Given their familiarity with camp residents’ cultural backgrounds and the camp's contextual environment, the research assistants played an important role in interacting with residents, explaining study procedures, obtaining informed consent, performing translation tasks, and aiding in data collection. Data assessment was carried out at the nearby Department of Physical Education and Sport Science. Participants received information about their results after completion of the assessment and were referred to a specialist in case of a potential health risk. As further incentives, participants received a meal and some sport equipment.