Jonathan Y Cagas

@upd.edu.ph

Department of Sports Science, College of Human Kinetics
University of the Philippines Diliman

Jonathan Y Cagas


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https://researchid.co/jycagas

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

General Health Professions, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Applied Psychology, Complementary and Manual Therapy
19

Scopus Publications

1256

Scholar Citations

17

Scholar h-index

20

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • Outdoor play: Current status, challenges, and opportunities in the Asia region
    Eun-Young Lee, Yeonjae Oh, Ameneh Baghestani, Jonathan Y. Cagas, Sitong Chen, et al.
    Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 2026
  • Erratum: Correction to: Improving National and International Surveillance of Movement Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence: An International Modified Delphi Study (Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) (2025) 55 1 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02104-2.)
    John J. Reilly, Rachel Andrew, Chalchisa Abdeta, Liane B. Azevedo, Nicolas Aguilar Farias, et al.
    Sports Medicine Auckland N Z, 2025
  • Why do people do yoga? Examining motives across different types of yoga participants
    Jonathan Y. Cagas, Stuart J. H. Biddle, Ineke Vergeer
    International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2025
  • Improving National and International Surveillance of Movement Behaviours in Childhood and Adolescence: An International Modified Delphi Study
    John J. Reilly, Rachel Andrew, Chalchisa Abdeta, Liane B. Azevedo, Nicolas Aguilar Farias, et al.
    Sports Medicine, 2025
    Background The actions required to achieve higher-quality and harmonised global surveillance of child and adolescent movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour including screen time, sleep) are unclear. Objective To identify how to improve surveillance of movement behaviours, from the perspective of experts. Methods This Delphi Study involved 62 experts from the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years and Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA). Two survey rounds were used, with items categorised under: (1) funding, (2) capacity building, (3) methods, and (4) other issues (e.g., policymaker awareness of relevant WHO Guidelines and Strategies). Expert participants ranked 40 items on a five-point Likert scale from ‘extremely’ to ‘not at all’ important. Consensus was defined as > 70% rating of ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important. Results We received 62 responses to round 1 of the survey and 59 to round 2. There was consensus for most items. The two highest rated round 2 items in each category were the following; for funding (1) it was greater funding for surveillance and public funding of surveillance; for capacity building (2) it was increased human capacity for surveillance (e.g. knowledge, skills) and regional or global partnerships to support national surveillance; for methods (3) it was standard protocols for surveillance measures and improved measurement method for screen time; and for other issues (4) it was greater awareness of physical activity guidelines and strategies from WHO and greater awareness of the importance of surveillance for NCD prevention. We generally found no significant differences in priorities between low-middle-income (n = 29) and high-income countries (n = 30) or between SUNRISE (n = 20), AHKGA (n = 26) or both (n = 13) initiatives. There was a lack of agreement on using private funding for surveillance or surveillance research. Conclusions This study provides a prioritised and international consensus list of actions required to improve surveillance of movement behaviours in children and adolescents globally.
  • “Men Need Role Models”: Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers for Yoga Participation Among Men
    Jonathan Y. Cagas, Stuart J. H. Biddle, Oscar Castro, Ineke Vergeer
    American Journal of Men S Health, 2024
    Yoga is a holistic form of physical activity taken up for various reasons, including physical and mental health, and sometimes spirituality. Despite the growing popularity of yoga as a form of health-enhancing physical activity, data show the uptake among men to be consistently low compared to women. To gain an understanding of barriers and facilitators for yoga uptake and adherence among men, four focus group discussions (three male groups, one female group) and three individual interviews were undertaken. Using thematic analysis, three themes were developed: (a) encouragement, advice, and support from trusted others, (b) confronting gender-related perceptions and issues, and (c) getting to the benefits. The findings suggest that men are more likely to take up yoga when encouraged by trusted others and male role models. Men face gender-related challenges that can be overcome by educating them about yoga, focusing on its physical benefits, and experiencing the benefits of yoga firsthand. To encourage more men into yoga, yoga teachers need to create an inclusive environment that welcomes men and caters to their needs. These findings provide valuable insight into the unique challenges experienced by men in pursuing and practicing yoga regularly. They may be used to develop targeted recruitment and marketing strategies to draw more men into yoga and encourage them to stay, which is essential for experiencing the many long-term health benefits of yoga.
  • Brief emotional eating scale: A multinational study of factor structure, validity, and invariance
    Montse C. Ruiz, Tracey J. Devonport, Chao-Hwa (Josephine) Chen-Wilson, Wendy Nicholls, Jonathan Y. Cagas, et al.
    Appetite, 2023
  • An Evaluation of Policies Promoting Physical Activity among Filipino Youth
    Yves Y. Palad, Roselle M. Guisihan, Maria Eliza R. Aguila, Ralph Andrew A. Ramos, Jonathan Y. Cagas
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023
    Government is key to promoting physical activity at the population level through policy. The government was one of the physical activity indicators graded for the 2022 Philippine Physical Activity Report Card based on ten physical activity-related policies. This study aimed to evaluate the scope of the policies and to update these policies. Philippine government databases were searched for policies using physical activity-related key terms. Policies found were evaluated using the Wales Active Healthy Kids scoring rubric. The overall grade was converted to a letter grade based on the Global Matrix 4.0 grading system. The authors analyzed the policies’ scope and implications to practice and policy. Seven additional policies were found. Considering all 17 policies, the government indicator grade is now A- from the preliminary grade of B. The scope covers promoting physical activity mainly through sports participation and active transport among students, student-athletes, persons with disabilities, and the general population in school and community settings. The gap between government and overall physical activity (F) scores suggests the need for a comprehensive physical activity plan promoting various forms of physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior among all Filipino youth and across various settings. Crucial to achieving change is a well-coordinated, whole-of-systems approach to promoting active healthy lifestyles.
  • Report card grades on physical activity for children and adolescents from 18 Asian countries: Patterns, trends, gaps, and future recommendations
    Eun-Young Lee, An-Chi Shih, Maia Collins, Yeong-Bae Kim, Patrick Abi Nader, et al.
    Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness, 2023
  • Association Between Physical Activity Indicators and Human Development Index at a National Level: Information From Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Cards for Children and Adolescents
    Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Salomé Aubert, Kwok Ng, Shawnda A. Morrison, Jonathan Y. Cagas, et al.
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2022
    Background: The aim of this study was to explore the associations between the 10 key indicators of the Global Matrix 4.0 project and human development index (HDI) at a national level according to sex, age, area of residence, and ability levels. Methods: Information from the 57 countries/localities included in the Global Matrix 4.0 project was compiled and presented according to the HDI of each country/locality for each of the 10 key indicators. Grades were assigned based on the benchmarks of the Global Matrix 4.0 project ranged between “A+” (best performance) and “F” (worst performance). Results: The population subgroups of females, children, rural residents, with/without disabilities from countries/localities with higher HDI performed better in the organized sport and physical activity indicator than their peers from countries/localities with lower HDI. Children and adolescents living in rural areas of countries/localities with higher HDI showed better performance for active play, and children and adolescents living in urban areas of countries/localities with lower HDI showed better performance for the active transportation. Countries/localities with higher HDI showed better grades for sources of influence than the countries/localities with lower HDI. Conclusions: Physical activity patterns in some population subgroups of children and adolescents differed according to the development level of countries/localities.
  • Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Adolescents: Results and Analyses From 57 Countries
    Salomé Aubert, Joel D. Barnes, Iryna Demchenko, Myranda Hawthorne, Chalchisa Abdeta, et al.
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2022
    Background: The Global Matrix 4.0 on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents was developed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global variation in children’s and adolescents’ (5–17 y) PA, related measures, and key sources of influence. The objectives of this article were (1) to summarize the findings from the Global Matrix 4.0 Report Cards, (2) to compare indicators across countries, and (3) to explore trends related to the Human Development Index and geo-cultural regions. Methods: A total of 57 Report Card teams followed a harmonized process to grade the 10 common PA indicators. An online survey was conducted to collect Report Card Leaders’ top 3 priorities for each PA indicator and their opinions on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child and adolescent PA indicators in their country. Results: Overall Physical Activity was the indicator with the lowest global average grade (D), while School and Community and Environment were the indicators with the highest global average grade (C+). An overview of the global situation in terms of surveillance and prevalence is provided for all 10 common PA indicators, followed by priorities and examples to support the development of strategies and policies internationally. Conclusions: The Global Matrix 4.0 represents the largest compilation of children’s and adolescents’ PA indicators to date. While variation in data sources informing the grades across countries was observed, this initiative highlighted low PA levels in children and adolescents globally. Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, local/international conflicts, climate change, and economic change threaten to worsen this situation.
  • Results from the Philippines' 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents
    Jonathan Y. Cagas, Marla Frances T. Mallari, Beatriz A. Torre, Mary-Grace D.P. Kang, Yves Y. Palad, et al.
    Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness, 2022
  • Brief Remote Intervention to Manage Food Cravings and Emotions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study
    Tracey J. Devonport, Chao-Hwa Chen-Wilson, Wendy Nicholls, Claudio Robazza, Jonathan Y. Cagas, et al.
    Frontiers in Psychology, 2022
  • For Exercise, Relaxation, or Spirituality: Exploring Participation Motives and Conformity to Masculine Norms among Male and Female Yoga Participants
    Jonathan Y. Cagas, Stuart J. H. Biddle, Ineke Vergeer
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022
  • Surveillance to improve physical activity of children and adolescents
    John Reilly, Salome Aubert, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Yang Liu, Jonathan Cagas, et al.
    Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2022
  • Using the Behavior Change Wheel to Understand University Students’ Prolonged Sitting Time and Identify Potential Intervention Strategies
    Oscar Castro, Ineke Vergeer, Jason Bennie, Jonathan Cagas, Stuart J. H. Biddle
    International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2021
  • Holistic movement practices – An emerging category of physical activity for exercise psychology
    Ineke Vergeer, Mattias Johansson, Jonathan Y. Cagas
    Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2021
  • Yoga not a (physical) culture for men? Understanding the barriers for yoga participation among men
    Jonathan Y. Cagas, Stuart J.H. Biddle, Ineke Vergeer
    Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2021
  • A Cross-Cultural Exploratory Study of Health Behaviors and Wellbeing During COVID-19
    Montse C. Ruiz, Tracey J. Devonport, Chao-Hwa (Josephine) Chen-Wilson, Wendy Nicholls, Jonathan Y. Cagas, et al.
    Frontiers in Psychology, 2021
  • When an activity is more than just exercise: a scoping review of facilitators and barriers for yoga participation
    Jonathan Y. Cagas, Stuart J.H. Biddle, Ineke Vergeer
    International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2020

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Outdoor play: Current status, challenges, and opportunities in the Asia region
    EY Lee, Y Oh, A Baghestani, JY Cagas, S Chen, WY Huang, JY Jeon, ...
    Social Sciences & Humanities Open 13, 102539 , 2026
    2026
  • More Than Just Physical Exercise: Yoga as a Holistic Movement Practice for Health and Well-Being
    JY Cagas
    Abstracts from the Tambali: Integrative Art, Spirituality, and Healing in … , 2026
    2026
  • Results from the Philippines’ 2025 GoPE! country card
    JY Cagas, LC Grepo-Jalao, J Pagaduan
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health 23 (S1), S47 , 2026
    2026
  • Results from the Philippines’ 2025 GoPA! country card
    JY Cagas, LC Grepo-Jalao, J Pagaduan
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health 23 (S1), S23 , 2026
    2026
  • Why do people do yoga? Examining motives across different types of yoga participants
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 23 (5), lx-lxxx , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 25
  • Improving national and international surveillance of movement behaviours in childhood and adolescence: an international modified Delphi study
    JJ Reilly, R Andrew, C Abdeta, LB Azevedo, NA Farias, S Barak, F Bardid, ...
    Sports Medicine 55 (1), 203-219 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 7
  • “Men Need Role Models”: Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers for Yoga Participation Among Men
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, O Castro, I Vergeer
    American Journal of Men's Health 18 (6), 15579883241298663 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • Brief emotional eating scale: A multinational study of factor structure, validity, and invariance
    MC Ruiz, TJ Devonport, CHJ Chen-Wilson, W Nicholls, JY Cagas, ...
    Appetite 185, 106538 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 7
  • An evaluation of policies promoting physical activity among Filipino youth
    YY Palad, RM Guisihan, MER Aguila, RAA Ramos, JY Cagas
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20 (4), 2865 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 13
  • Report card grades on physical activity for children and adolescents from 18 Asian countries: Patterns, trends, gaps, and future recommendations
    EY Lee, AC Shih, M Collins, YB Kim, P Abi Nader, J Bhawra, TR Katapally, ...
    Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness 21 (1), 34-44 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 21
  • When an activity is more than just exercise: A scoping review of facilitators and barriers for yoga participation
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology 16 (1), 93-154 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 51
  • Surveillance to improve physical activity of children and adolescents
    JJ Reilly, S Aubert, J Brazo-Sayavera, Y Liu, JY Cagas, MS Tremblay
    Bulletin of the World Health Organization 100 (12), 815 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 55
  • Association between physical activity indicators and human development index at a national level: information from global matrix 4.0 physical activity report cards for children …
    DAS Silva, S Aubert, K Ng, SA Morrison, JY Cagas, R Tesler, D Tladi, ...
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health 19 (11), 737-744 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 27
  • Global matrix 4.0 physical activity report card grades for children and adolescents: results and analyses from 57 countries
    S Aubert, JD Barnes, I Demchenko, M Hawthorne, C Abdeta, P Abi Nader, ...
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health 19 (11), 700-728 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 525
  • Results from the Philippines' 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents
    JY Cagas, MFT Mallari, BA Torre, MGDP Kang, YY Palad, RM Guisihan, ...
    Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 57
  • Brief remote intervention to manage food cravings and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study
    TJ Devonport, CH Chen-Wilson, W Nicholls, C Robazza, JY Cagas, ...
    Frontiers in Psychology 13, 903096 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 11
  • A seven-day remote intervention to manage food cravings and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic
    W Nicholls, T Devonport, R Montse, C Youngjun, CHJ Chen-Wilson, ...
    Unpublished , 2022
    2022
  • For exercise, relaxation, or spirituality: Exploring participation motives and conformity to masculine norms among male and female yoga participants
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    International journal of environmental research and public health 19 (2), 770 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 30
  • Holistic movement practices – An emerging category of physical activity for exercise psychology
    I Vergeer, M Johansson, JY Cagas
    Psychology of Sport and Exercise 53, 101870 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 55
  • Yoga not a (physical) culture for men? Understanding the barriers for yoga participation among men
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 42, 101262 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 77

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Global matrix 4.0 physical activity report card grades for children and adolescents: results and analyses from 57 countries
    S Aubert, JD Barnes, I Demchenko, M Hawthorne, C Abdeta, P Abi Nader, ...
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health 19 (11), 700-728 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 525
  • A cross-cultural exploratory study of health behaviours and wellbeing during Covid-19
    MC Ruiz, TJ Devonport, CHJ Chen-Wilson, W Nicholls, JY Cagas, ...
    Frontiers in Psychology 11, 608216 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 110
  • Yoga not a (physical) culture for men? Understanding the barriers for yoga participation among men
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 42, 101262 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 77
  • Results from the Philippines' 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents
    JY Cagas, MFT Mallari, BA Torre, MGDP Kang, YY Palad, RM Guisihan, ...
    Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 57
  • Surveillance to improve physical activity of children and adolescents
    JJ Reilly, S Aubert, J Brazo-Sayavera, Y Liu, JY Cagas, MS Tremblay
    Bulletin of the World Health Organization 100 (12), 815 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 55
  • Holistic movement practices – An emerging category of physical activity for exercise psychology
    I Vergeer, M Johansson, JY Cagas
    Psychology of Sport and Exercise 53, 101870 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 55
  • When an activity is more than just exercise: A scoping review of facilitators and barriers for yoga participation
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology 16 (1), 93-154 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 51
  • Physical activity and physical fitness among Filipino university students
    CS Pituk, JY Cagas
    Journal of Physical Education (Maringa) 30, e3076 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 40
  • Using the Behavior Change Wheel to understand university students’ prolonged sitting time and identify potential intervention strategies
    O Castro, I Vergeer, J Bennie, J Cagas, SJH Biddle
    International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1-12 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 35
  • For exercise, relaxation, or spirituality: Exploring participation motives and conformity to masculine norms among male and female yoga participants
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    International journal of environmental research and public health 19 (2), 770 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 30
  • Association between physical activity indicators and human development index at a national level: information from global matrix 4.0 physical activity report cards for children …
    DAS Silva, S Aubert, K Ng, SA Morrison, JY Cagas, R Tesler, D Tladi, ...
    Journal of Physical Activity and Health 19 (11), 737-744 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 27
  • Comparison of exercise versus sport participation motives among Filipino university students
    JY Cagas, E Manalastas, B Torre, C Sanchez-Pituk
    Asia Life Sciences 24 (2), 703-713 , 2015
    2015
    Citations: 26
  • Why do people do yoga? Examining motives across different types of yoga participants
    JY Cagas, SJH Biddle, I Vergeer
    International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 23 (5), lx-lxxx , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 25
  • Report card grades on physical activity for children and adolescents from 18 Asian countries: Patterns, trends, gaps, and future recommendations
    EY Lee, AC Shih, M Collins, YB Kim, P Abi Nader, J Bhawra, TR Katapally, ...
    Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness 21 (1), 34-44 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 21
  • The basic psychological needs in physical education scale in filipino: An exploratory factor analysis
    J Cagas, M Chasandra
    Philippine Journal of Psychology 47 (1), 19-40 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 20
  • Why do Filipinos exercise? Exploring motives from the perspective of Filipinos youth
    JY Cagas, B Torre, EJ Manalastas
    Proceedings of the III International Conference of Physical Education and … , 2010
    2010
    Citations: 19
  • "Pampapayat, para lumakas, to be healthy": Exploring Filipino motives for exercise
    J Cagas, B Torre, EJ Manalastas
    Philippine Journal of Psychology 47 (1), 145-161 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 17
  • An evaluation of policies promoting physical activity among Filipino youth
    YY Palad, RM Guisihan, MER Aguila, RAA Ramos, JY Cagas
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20 (4), 2865 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 13
  • Body image, body mass index and the experience of Hiya in physical education among Filipino female university students
    ZR Brebante, JY Cagas
    Asia Life Sciences 24 (2), 647-59 , 2015
    2015
    Citations: 12
  • Brief remote intervention to manage food cravings and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study
    TJ Devonport, CH Chen-Wilson, W Nicholls, C Robazza, JY Cagas, ...
    Frontiers in Psychology 13, 903096 , 2022
    2022
    Citations: 11