Impact Of Perceived Barriers On A 12-week, University-based Walking Intervention

Abstract

According to Smith (2013), lack of time and poor weather are the two most commonly reported barriers to obtaining regular physical activity during a 12-week, university-based walking intervention. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to further investigate these barriers by assessing the impact of temperature and the number of daylight hours on physical activity during a 12-week pedometer based walking intervention. METHODS: 541 participants wore a pedometer daily for 12 weeks to monitor their step counts (Fall n=357; Spring n=184). Each week, participants were required to report their daily step counts via email. Participants were also encouraged to complete a pre- and post-survey which questioned their perceived barriers to obtaining regular physical activity. Lastly, average weekly temperatures and daylight hours were recorded through the use of a historical weather database and then correlated to weekly average step counts. RESULTS: 269 of the 541 participants who registered for the program completed at least 9 of the 12 weeks [Fall n=172 (48%); Spring n=95 (52%)]. Of the completers, there was a significant decrease in step counts between week 1 (60,803±30,154) and week 12 (56,355±31,369) of the fall semester (p=0.012). This reduction in step counts was moderately correlated to both a reduction in temperature (r=.513; p=0.088) and a reduction in daylight hours (r=0.637; p=.026). However, during the spring semester, completers’ step counts significantly increased from week 1 (57,619±32,217) to week 12 (79,381±30,111) (p<0.000). This increase in step counts was strongly correlated to an increase in both temperature (r=.742; p=0.006) and daylight hours (r=0.738; p=.006). From the post-program questionnaire, participants reported that lack of time (78%) and poor weather (28%) were significant barriers to obtaining regular physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature and daylight hours had a moderate, positive correlation with physical activity during the fall semester and a strong, positive correlation with physical activity during the spring semester. Future walking interventions should address these perceived barriers by educating and motivating participants to stay physically active especially during colder seasons with fewer hours of daylight.