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Related Experiment Videos

Perceived barriers to walking for physical activity.

Genevieve F Dunton1, Margaret Schneider

  • 1Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 1000 S Fremont Ave, Unit 8, Alhambra, CA 91803, USA. dunton@usc.edu

Preventing Chronic Disease
|September 19, 2006
PubMed
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Identifying barriers to walking is crucial for promoting physical activity. This study found that appearance and situational factors significantly impede walking, impacting moderate physical activity levels in college students.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Exercise Science
  • Behavioral Psychology

Background:

  • The health benefits of walking are well-established, yet specific barriers to this physical activity remain poorly understood.
  • Previous research has not adequately explored the unique obstacles college students face when trying to incorporate walking into their routines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a questionnaire to measure perceived barriers to walking for physical activity among college students.
  • To evaluate the reliability and validity of the developed instrument in assessing these barriers.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire assessing walking barriers was administered to 305 undergraduate students.
  • Factor analysis was used to identify underlying barrier dimensions.
  • Test-retest reliability and discriminant/criterion validity were assessed using subsamples, including accelerometer-measured physical activity.

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Main Results:

  • Factor analysis revealed three key barriers: appearance, footwear, and situation.
  • Appearance and situational barriers demonstrated good reliability and validity.
  • These barriers explained additional variance in objectively measured moderate physical activity, even after controlling for vigorous exercise barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Appearance and situational barriers are significant predictors of walking for physical activity, particularly spontaneous walking.
  • Understanding these specific barriers is vital for designing effective interventions to increase walking and overall physical activity in college populations.