Barriers to Physical Activity from Educational College Students' Perspective

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore factors influencing physical inactivity behaviors and to identify lifestyle-related strategies that can facilitate physical activity among educational college students. Methods: Modified ground theory was employed for obtaining information on aspects of the barriers to the physical activity and for giving suggestions to emerged themes. An open-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from 121 general educational college students. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 college students from G National University of Education. Focus group interview was performed with 8 students who participated in in-depth interview. The transcripts were carefully read and similar data content were grouped together for primary categorization using constant comparison method. The categories were examined for interrelationships among the categories and organized into three categories. The three categories were compared and grouped into themes and examined for interrelationships to develop the conceptual framework representing the data. The external validity of the data was enhanced from the opinion of the experts. A group expert interview was conducted with five college instructors who did not participate in the formal interviews. The feedback from the expert interview was incorporated into the results. Results: Results of the study were presented according to the three emerging themes: Predisposing factors, motivators, and suggestions. Conclusion: Thirteen barriers were identified that can negatively influence physical activity, which were later grouped into two main categories: personal and external barriers. Various approaches to facilitate physical activity were discussed.