Barriers to adolescent girls' participation in physical activity defined by physical activity levels

Perceived barriers were the single most powerful predictors of a change in health behaviours and the most consistent negative correlate of children's actual physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived barriers of physical activity in 714 adolescent girls defined by physical activity levels.

The final sample consisted of 714 adolescent, student girls. The age of these students ranged from 12 to 15 years, with a mean age of 13.5 ± 0.7 years. Perceived physical activity and perceived barriers to physical activity were measured using the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire and a Scale of Barriers that includes 17 units of barriers divided into two categories: intrapersonal barriers and environmental/contextual barriers.

In our study, girls with a low activity level perceived a greater number of barriers than those with a high activity level, more specifically three intrapersonal barriers and two environmental/contextual barriers. Girls with a low activity level reported greater barriers to physical activity than high-active girls for these barriers: don't like physical activity (F=23.405, p=0.001), not good at physical activity and sports (F=24.160, p=0.001), I'm too lazy to do physical activity (F=8.415, P=0.001), it is not safe to do physical activity outdoors (F=11.39, P<0.001) and there is no-one to do physical activity with (F=15.22 P<0.001).

This study shows the need to learn and effectively use time management strategies that emphasize prioritising and better scheduling of physical activities.