Socio-ecological Barriers to Leisure Time Physical Activity in Spanish Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury: Associations With Sociodemographic Characteristics and Functional Independence

OBJECTIVE

(1) To assess prevalence and severity of socio-ecological barriers to leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in a sample of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) to examine the association of these barriers with sociodemographic characteristics and functional independence (FI); and (3) to explore which socio-ecological levels of barriers might be associated with LTPA.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Neurorehabilitation Hospital specialized in SCI.

PARTICIPANTS

207 wheelchair users with SCI living in the community who attended a comprehensive check-up (22.7% women, 47.5±10.7 mean age; N=207).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The short version of the Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments was used to measure socio-ecological barriers to LTPA. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure III was used to measure FI. The Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with SCI was used to quantify LTPA. Several multiple linear regression models were computed to examine the associations between socio-ecological barriers and sociodemographic factors, LTPA and FI.

RESULTS

A high prevalence of barriers to LTPA was found. Seven of these barriers (2 intrapersonal, 3 organizational, and 2 community) were present for >60% of the participants. Intrapersonal and organizational barriers had a higher effect on participants with lower FI and women. Interpersonal barriers were higher for older participants and with lower FI, while community barriers were higher for unemployed participants. Finally, intrapersonal and interpersonal barriers were negatively associated with LTPA, and FI revealed as a moderator of the intrapersonal barriers-LTPA relation.

CONCLUSIONS

Given their high prevalence and their association with LTPA, the development of interventions targeting socio-ecological barriers to LTPA in people with SCI becomes crucial. The associations of these barriers with FI and sociodemographic characteristics should also be considered for these interventions to be as specific and effective as possible.

Prevalence of Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity Among Pre- and Post-Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe and compare the prevalence of perceived barriers to physical activity (PBPA) in pre- and post-metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) patients and assess the association of these barriers with their physical activity levels.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study included pre-operative (n = 63) and post-operative (n = 119) groups. Sociodemographic characteristics, leisure-time physical activity levels, and PBPA data were collected. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests, and binomial logistic regression analyses were used for comparisons and associations.

RESULTS

Compared to the pre-operative group, the post-operative group had a lower prevalence of barriers in the physical domain (p = 0.036) and the behavioral domain (p = 0.004). However, there were no significant differences in the environmental (p = 0.531) or social (p = 0.597) domains. Pre-MBS patients were more likely to be physically inactive when perceiving barriers in the environmental (p = 0.048) and behavioral (p = 0.048) domains. In contrast, post-surgical patients were more likely to be physically inactive when perceiving barriers in the environmental (p = 0.027), social (p = 0.020), and behavioral (p = 0.037) domains.

CONCLUSION

The results show that individuals who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery have a lower prevalence of behavioral and physical PBPA compared to those awaiting the procedure. The perception of barriers to physical activity in the environmental and behavioral domains increases the likelihood of physical inactivity in both pre- and post-MBS patients, while in the social domain, it was only associated with physical activity in post-MBS patients.

Barriers to physical activity in pregnant women living in Iran and its predictors: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA) on maternal and fetal health, the level of PA is low among pregnant women globally. The aim of this study was to determine the barriers to PA and its predictors in Iranian pregnant women specifically.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 300 pregnant women referred to the Ilam health centers of Iran. The sampling strategy used stratified random proportional allocation sampling from both comprehensive health centers and health bases. Data were collected from September to December 2018 in relation to individual characteristics. Data collection tools used included the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Barriers to Physical Activity during Pregnancy Scale. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics and statistical tests of analysis including variance, independent t-test and multiple linear regression were used.

RESULTS

The mean and SD of the total score of PA barriers was 88.55 and 19.28, respectively. The highest and lowest mean scores of the subscale of PA barriers were related to interpersonal and environmental barriers, respectively. Among the intrapersonal barriers related to pregnancy; fear of pregnancy complications, drowsiness, and nausea and vomiting, heaviness or swelling barriers scored higher than other barriers. Lack of regular schedule, insufficient time, and lack of motivation received the highest score in terms of intrapersonal barriers non-related to pregnancy. In the interpersonal subscale; lack of knowledge about how to be physically active during pregnancy, forbiddance of PA by friends and family, as well as lack of advice from physicians and midwives scored higher than other barriers. Lack of adequate facilities and air pollution were identified as barriers to PA in the environmental subscale. PA barriers were significantly associated with pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy body mass index (B = - 14.643), level of education (B = 17.215), and habitual exercise pre-pregnancy (B = - 7.15).

CONCLUSION

Interpersonal barriers were reported to be the most common barriers to PA during pregnancy. Perinatal care providers should encourage, educate and reassure pregnant women, their spouses and their families about the benefits, type and frequency of safe PA in pregnancy. PA interventions focused on women with lower levels of education and income in particular are required.

A cross-sectional study on the perceived barriers to physical activity and their associations with domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behaviour

Background

Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour have detrimental consequences to the individual and the economy. Our study examined the prevalence of perceived barriers to physical activity in Singapore’s adult population and their associations with physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis utilised data from a nationwide survey in Singapore. Participants (n = 2867) were recruited from February 2019 to March 2020. The independent variables were internal (e.g. fatigue, age) and external (e.g. weather, cost) perceived barriers to physical activity. The outcomes were domain-specific physical activity (work, transport and leisure) and sedentary behaviour, all of which were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. The associations were examined using zero-inflated negative binomial regressions for physical activity and linear regression for sedentary behaviour.

Results

The median (Interquartile range) for work-related, transport-related and leisure-related physical activity were 0 (0 – 1440), 600 (160 – 1120) and 360 (0 – 1080) MET (metabolic equivalent)-minutes per week. The median sedentary behaviour (IQR) was 360 (240 – 540) minutes per day. The top three barriers were lack of time (65.3%), fatigue (64.7%) and pollution (56.1%). After adjustment, the level of transport-related physical activity was lower for respondents who cited lacking pavement or parks as a barrier, but higher for those who indicated cost and safety concerns. Respondents who reported pollution as a barrier were more likely to engage in transport-related physical activity. The level of leisure-related physical activity was lower for respondents indicating weather, lack of time and age as barriers, but higher for those reporting safety concerns. The odds of engaging in leisure-related physical activity was lower for those citing age, cost and fatigue as barriers, but higher for those indicating the weather. Sedentary behaviour was positively associated with work and limited accessibility to exercise facilities, but negatively with safety concerns.

Conclusion

Individuals can be motivated to overcome internal barriers (fatigue, lack of time, cost and age) through social support and emphasis on exercise benefits. External barriers (weather and lack of pavements or parks) can be reduced by raising awareness of existing infrastructure. Sedentary behaviour can be improved by implementing workplace measures, such as reducing the time spent sitting.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13431-2.

Gender differences in barriers to physical activity among adolescents

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Great attention is now being paid to effective policies and programs to promote physical activity among adolescents, girls consistently found to be less active than boys. The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in perceived barriers for physical activity practice and their relationship with physical activity levels and physical condition among adolescents.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in February-April 2017 among students (n = 368) in the last year of two state high schools in Florence (Italy). Participants underwent the measurements of anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences), blood pressure and administration of 3 standardized questionnaires (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Mediterranean Diet Score Quiz, and Barriers to Being Active Quiz). Gender differences were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model (adjusted for age and body mass index). The prevalence of participants who reached recommended levels was lower among girls compared to boys (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.17-0.43). The number of perceived barriers to physical activity was higher among girls than among boys (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.29-1.79), lack of energy for exercise and lack of willpower being the two barriers most frequently reported by girls. At multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis, gender (female), and positivity of at least one perceived barrier (score ≥ 5) were independently selected as the main determinants of non-compliance with WHO criteria for physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise professionals should be aware of the barriers that young girls can face during exercise prescription and be able to contrast them with useful individual strategies.