Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity for Rural and Remote Children and Youth: A Scoping Review

Engagement in regular physical activity throughout childhood is fundamental to physiological development and prevention of chronic disease. Despite strong evidence supporting its benefits, many young Australians fail to achieve recommended physical activity levels, with rural children and youth in particular experiencing challenges to participation. Understanding the reasons for low participation and identifying strategies to enhance engagement within rural communities is critical to equitable health promotion. This scoping review synthesized current literature to identify barriers and facilitators to physical activity for rural and remote children and youth in Australia.

This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Scoping Reviews guidelines. Four databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies examining barriers and facilitators to physical activity among Australian rural children and youth. Narrative synthesis was used to analyze texts, then identified barriers and facilitators were categorized using an adapted socioecological framework.

Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis revealed 46 barriers and 40 facilitators to physical activity engagement. Findings showcased barriers including accessibility, self-exclusionary behaviors, gender norms, and negative social environments. Facilitators included social support, use of school infrastructure, and positive sporting environments.

Children and youth in rural areas face multifaceted barriers and facilitators to physical activity, shaped by social and physical environments. While this review provides an emerging understanding of these factors and their practical implications, further research is needed to develop a deeper understanding and to ensure future service provision is tailored to the context of rural children and youth.