Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2023
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Source Publication
Journal of Applied Physiology
Source ISSN
8750-7587
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00377.2023
Abstract
Historically, low representation of women participants in exercise science and physiology studies has led to a lack of understanding in the response of women to exercise and therapeutic interventions. We hypothesized that 1) the number of women authors, participants, and editorial board members increased over 30 years (1991–2021) and 2) larger representation of women as editors and authors is associated with more women participants. Gender (man/woman) of editorial board members (n = 394), authors (n = 5,735), and participants (n = 2,984,883) of 972 original research articles with human participants published in 1991 and 2021 was analyzed from three journals: Journal of Applied Physiology, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, and British Journal of Sports Medicine. Between 1991 to 2021, the average percent women per article as participants (21.9 ± 31.7% vs. 36.3 ± 30.3%, respectively, P < 0.001), authors (16.4 ± 22.4% vs. 30.9 ± 24.0%, P < 0.001), and editorial board members (13.3 ± 5.4% vs. 41.5 ± 7.3%, P = 0.006) increased. In 2021, the gender proportion of participants in large datasets was similar (50.2 ± 20.2% women). However, studies with smaller datasets (i.e., r = 0.42, P < 0.001). Our data suggest that the low representation of women in exercise science and physiology research could be resolved with equitable numbers of women authors and editors and by encouraging men authors to study both women and men participants.
Recommended Citation
James, Jessica J.; Klevenow, Emilie A.; Atkinson, Mira A.; Vosters, Emma E.; Bueckers, Elizabeth P.; Quinn, Meagan E.; Kindy, Samantha L.; Mason, Azara P.; Nelson, Sophia K.; Rainwater, Kennedy A. H.; Taylor, Petra V.; Zippel, Elena P.; and Hunter, Sandra K., "Underrepresentation of Women in Exercise Science and Physiology Research Is Associated with Authorship Gender" (2023). Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications. 223.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/exsci_fac/223
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 135, No. 4 (October 2023): 932-942. DOI. © 2023 American Physiological Society. Used with permission.