Perceived barriers to physical activity among high school students

Background Perceived barriers to physical activity, the factor structure of perceived barriers, and the relationship between perceived barriers and pa rticipation in vigorous physical activity were examined. Methods. A two-stage cluster sample of high school students (N = 1,041) in a large Metropolitan Toronto school district was used. Students completed a questionnaire (response rate 81.4%) dealing with participation in physical activity in three settings. Factor analysis was used to examine the dimens ionality of perceived barriers. Multiple regression analysis was then used to examine the relationship between perceived barriers and participation. Results. Time constraints due to school work, other interests, and family a ctivities were three of the four barriers considered most important. Female s cited consistently higher levels of perceived barriers than males. Two em pirically distinct and theoretically meaningful factors emerged from the an alysis-perceived internal barriers and perceived external barriers. Perceiv ed internal barriers were predictive of physical activity in overall activi ty and outside of school activity. Perceived external barriers were predict ive of overall physical activity and other school activity, but in the dire ction opposite to that hypothesized. Conclusions. It was concluded that perceived barriers may be predictive of physical activity participation among high school students only under speci fic conditions. (C) 1999 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.