Barriers to physical activity in an on-site corporate fitness center.
Abstract
Many corporations provide employees the option of participating in on-site fitness centers, but utilization rates are low. Perceived barriers to physical activity have been established as important correlates of physical activity, and recent research indicates that barriers may vary across settings. Work-site fitness centers may present unique barriers to participation, but there are currently no standardized measures that assess such barriers. Eighty-eight employees of a midwestern corporation completed a survey designed to identify and evaluate the extent to which barriers influence participation in an on-site corporate fitness center. Regression analyses revealed that external environmental barriers (e.g., inadequate exercise facilities) significantly accounted for not joining the fitness center, and for decreased duration of visits to the facility among members. Internal barriers (e.g., feeling embarrassed to exercise around coworkers) significantly accounted for frequency of fitness center visits among members. This corporate specific measure may lead to more effective interventions aimed to increase use of on-site corporate fitness centers.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In another observational analysis, perceived low quality of exercise facilities at the worksite fitness center was associated with lower likelihood of membership.
“In another observational analysis, perceived low quality of exercise facilities at the worksite fitness center was associated with lower likelihood of membership.272”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [272]
Cites
The Health Belief Model: a decade later.
Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984) · Health Education Quarterly · doi:10.1177/109019818401100101 · Cited by 8,437 · see citing works
Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment
(1978) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/0149-7189(78)90042-3 · Cited by 3,954 · see citing works
Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives.
Heidel, R. E. (1991) · Population and Development Review · doi:10.2307/1971966 · Cited by 3,162 · see citing works
Correlates of adults??? participation in physical activity: review and update
TROST, S. G., OWEN, N., BAUMAN, A. E., SALLIS, J. F., & BROWN, W. (2002) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1097/00005768-200212000-00020 · Cited by 3,040 · see citing works
Journal of Occupational Medicine
Norman, L. G. (1959) · Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1136/oem.16.4.332-a · Cited by 2,324 · see citing works
A simultaneous evaluation of 10 commonly used physical activity questionnaires
Jacobs, D. R., Ainsworth, B. E., Hartman, T. J., & Leon, A. S. (1993) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/00005768-199301000-00012 · Cited by 1,677 · see citing works
Task Force on Community Preventive Services
(2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195151091.002.0004 · Cited by 1,162 · see citing works
BLAIR, S. N., HASKELL, W. L., HO, P., PAFFENBARGER, R. S., VRANIZAN, K. M., FARQUHAR, J. W., & WOOD, P. D. (1985) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114163 · Cited by 1,104 · see citing works
The determinants of physical activity and exercise.
(1985) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 943 · see citing works
Salmon, J., Owen, N., Crawford, D., Bauman, A., & Sallis, J. F. (2003) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.22.2.178 · Cited by 915 · see citing works
King, A. C., Castro, C. M., Wilcox, S., Eyler, A. A., Sallis, J. F., & Brownson, R. C. (2000) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037//0278-6133.19.4.354 · Cited by 856 · see citing works
Are Current Health Behavioral Change Models Helpful in Guiding Prevention of Weight Gain Efforts?
Baranowski, T., Cullen, K. W., Nicklas, T. A., Thompson, D., & Baranowski, J. C. (2003) · Obesity Research · doi:10.1038/oby.2003.222 · Cited by 715 · see citing works
Development and psychometric evaluation of the exercise benefits/barriers scale
Sechrist, K. R., Walker, S. N., & Pender, N. J. (1987) · Research in Nursing & Health · doi:10.1002/nur.4770100603 · Cited by 651 · see citing works
The Behavioral Determinants of Exercise: Implications for Physical Activity Interventions
Sherwood, N. E., & Jeffery, R. W. (2000) · Annual Review of Nutrition · doi:10.1146/annurev.nutr.20.1.21 · Cited by 606 · see citing works
Katz, D. L., O’Connell, M., Yeh, M., Nawaz, H., Njike, V. Y., Anderson, L. M., Cory, S., & Dietz, W. H. (2005) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e548732006-001 · Cited by 467 · see citing works
The accuracy of self-reports of physical activity
Klesges, R. C., Eck, L. H., Mellon, M. W., Fulliton, W. L., Somes, G. W., & Hanson, C. L. (1990) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/00005768-199010000-00022 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Principles and Practice of Behavioral Assessment
Haynes, S. N., & O’Brien, W. H. (2000) · Applied Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1007/978-0-306-47469-9 · Cited by 272 · see citing works
Self-citationReliability and Validity of Expected Outcomes and Barriers for Habitual Physical Activity
Steinhardt, M. A., & Dishman, R. K. (1989) · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1097/00043764-198906000-00011 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Worksite Fitness and Exercise Programs: A Review of Methodology and Health Impact
Shephard, R. J. (1996) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-10.6.436 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Worksite
Fielding, J. E. (1984) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev.pu.05.050184.001321 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Measuring Perceived Benefits and Perceived Barriers for Physical Activity
赤羽, 秀. (2005) · American Journal of Health Behavior · doi:10.5993/ajhb.29.2.2 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Reliability and Validity of Self-Reported Physical Activity in Latinos
Rauh, M. J., Hovell, M. F., Hofstetter, C. R., Sallis, J. F., & Gleghorn, A. A. (1992) · International Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/ije/21.5.966 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Perceived benefits of and barriers to exercise and stage of exercise adoption in young adults.
Myers, R. S., & Roth, D. L. (1997) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.16.3.277 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
The Theory of Planned Behaviour as Predictor of Exercise
Bozionelos, G., & Bennett, P. D. (1999) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/135910539900400406 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Field trial of a three-dimensional activity monitor: comparison with self report
Matthews, C. E., & Freedson, P. S. (1995) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/00005768-199507000-00017 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Application of Theoretical Models to Exercise Behavior among Employed Women
Marcus, B. H., Pinto, B. M., Simkin, L. R., Audrain, J. E., & Taylor, E. R. (1994) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-9.1.49 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Grosch, J. W., Alterman, T., Petersen, M. R., & Murphy, L. R. (1998) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-13.1.36 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Payne, N., Jones, F. A., & Harris, P. R. (2002) · Journal of Occupational Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/1076-8998.7.4.342 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Wallace, J. P., McKenzie, T. L., & Nader, P. R. (1985) · Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport · doi:10.1080/02701367.1985.10608451 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Lack of Time for Physical Activity: Perception or Reality for African American and Hispanic Women?
Heesch, K. C., & Mâsse, L. C. (2004) · Women & Health · doi:10.1300/j013v39n03_04 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Harrison, D. A., & Liska, L. Z. (1994) · Personnel Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1744-6570.1994.tb02409.x · Cited by 39 · see citing works
A Perceived Benefits and Barriers Scale for Strenuous Physical Activity in College Students
Brown, S. A., Huber, D. M., & Bergman, A. (2006) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.4278/0890-1171-21.2.137 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Psychological and perceived situational predictors of physical activity: a cross-sectional analysis
Mitchell, S. A. (1999) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/14.3.305 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
History of Exposure to Self-Focusing Stimuli as a Developmental Antecedent of Self-Consciousness
Morin, A. (1997) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.1997.80.3c.1252 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Mozaffarian, D., Afshin, A., Benowitz, N. L., Bittner, V., Daniels, S. R., Franch, H. A., Jacobs, D. R., Kraus, W. E., Kris-Etherton, P. M., Krummel, D. A., et al. (2012) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/cir.0b013e318260a20b · Cited by 601 · see citing works
Making Healthy Behaviors the Easy Choice for Employees
Kahn-Marshall, J. L., & Gallant, M. P. (2012) · Health Education & Behavior · doi:10.1177/1090198111434153 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Gjestvang, C., Abrahamsen, F., Stensrud, T., & Haakstad, L. A. H. (2020) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.13736 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Nikolajsen, H., Sandal, L. F., Juhl, C. B., Troelsen, J., & Juul‐Kristensen, B. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18147341 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Caudroit, J., Boiché, J., Stéphan, Y., Scanff, C. L., & Trouilloud, D. O. (2011) · European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology · doi:10.1080/13594320903507124 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Edmunds, S., Hurst, L., & Harvey, K. (2013) · International Journal of Workplace Health Management · doi:10.1108/ijwhm-11-2010-0040 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Brazeau, A., Mircescu, H., Desjardins, K., Dubé, M.-O., Weisnagel, S. J., Lavoie, C., & RABASA-LHORET, R. P. R. (2011) · Diabetes & Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.diabet.2011.10.005 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Employee perceived barriers to participation in worksite health promotion
Nöhammer, E., Stummer, H., & Schusterschitz, C. (2013) · Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1007/s10389-013-0586-3 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Development of the Motivators of and Barriers to Health-Smart Behaviors Inventory.
Tucker, C. M., Rice, K. G., Hou, W., Kaye, L. B., Nolan, S. E. M., Grandoit, D. J., Gonzales, L., Smith, M. B., & Desmond, F. F. (2011) · Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1037/a0022299 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Influence of Self-Efficacy on Compliance to Workplace Exercise
Pedersen, M. M., Zebis, M. K., Langberg, H., Poulsen, O. M., Mortensen, O. S., Jensen, J. N., Sjøgaard, G., Bredahl, T. V. G., & Andersen, L. L. (2012) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12529-012-9239-0 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
A Twin-Sibling Study on the Relationship Between Exercise Attitudes and Exercise Behavior
Huppertz, C., Bartels, M., Jansen, I. E., Boomsma, D. I., Willemsen, G. A. H. M., de Moor, M. H. M., & de Geus, E. J. C. (2013) · Behavior Genetics · doi:10.1007/s10519-013-9617-7 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Perceived barriers and facilitators to workplace exercise participation
Hunter, J. R., Gordon, B. A., Bird, S. R., & Benson, A. C. (2018) · International Journal of Workplace Health Management · doi:10.1108/ijwhm-04-2018-0055 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Blackford, K., Jancey, J. M., Howat, P. A., Ledger, M., & Lee, A. H. (2013) · Preventing Chronic Disease · doi:10.5888/pcd10.130029 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Physical Activity and Sedentary Time
George, E. S., Kolt, G. S., Rosenkranz, R. R., & Guagliano, J. M. (2013) · American Journal of Men s Health · doi:10.1177/1557988313497217 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Fitness for all: how do non-disabled people respond to inclusive fitness centres?
Nikolajsen, H., Richardson, E. V., Sandal, L. F., Juul‐Kristensen, B., & Troelsen, J. (2021) · BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1186/s13102-021-00303-2 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Dagenais, S., Mayer, J. M., & Nuzzo, J. L. (2013) · Patient Preference and Adherence · doi:10.2147/ppa.s42507 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Obesity in the Workplace: a Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Healthy Lifestyles
Mazzola, J. J., Jackson, A. T., & Thiele, A. (2019) · Occupational Health Science · doi:10.1007/s41542-019-00046-0 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Exploring Faculty and Staff PA Barriers at a Large University
Das, B. M., Rinaldi-Miles, A. I., & Evans, E. M. (2013) · Californian Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.32398/cjhp.v11i2.1532 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Watanabe, K., Otsuka, Y., Shimazu, A., & Kawakami, N. (2016) · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000590 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Rogers, E. M., Banks, N. F., Trachta, E. R., Gibbs, B. B., Carr, L. J., & Jenkins, N. D. M. (2024) · Workplace Health & Safety · doi:10.1177/21650799231215814 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Work, Stress and Health Behaviors
Paynev, N., Kinman, G., & Jones, F. A. (2012) · doi:10.1002/9781119942849.ch14 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Naseer, M., Khoso, A., Naqvi, S. A., & Irfan, H. (2013) · Journal of Physical Activity and Health · doi:10.1123/jpah.10.7.1039 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Cost and culture: Factors influencing worksite physical activity across three universities
Rinaldi-Miles, A. I., & Das, B. M. (2016) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-162426 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Castellanos, F. A. R., Lara, S. C. V., Guzmán, E. M. G., Rodríguez, S. A. G., & Díaz, J. D. L. (2018) · Cuerpo Cultura y Movimiento · doi:10.15332/s2248-4418.2017.0001.05 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Barriers to Work Wellness Among Academic Staff in Higher Education Institutions
Aloka, P. J. O. (2022) · Advances in higher education and professional development book series · doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7693-9.ch002 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Effect of knowledge of exercise benefits on attitude, motivation, and exercise participation
Chaubal, S. R. (2011) · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Lian, C. W. (2022) · Medicine & health · doi:10.17576/mh.2022.1701.12 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Creating Value Through Occupational Health Management
Sonntag, K., & Stegmaier, R. (2014) · Management for professionals · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-08186-1_8 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Chiu, W., Kim, H. S., & Oh, Y. S. (2025) · Sport Marketing Quarterly · doi:10.32731/smq.342.062025.02 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Han-Jong, P. (2012) · Figshare · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Benda, F. (2019) · B&G Bewegungstherapie und Gesundheitssport · doi:10.1055/a-0890-7269 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
van der Put, A. C., Mandemakers, J. J., de Wit, J. B. F., & van der Lippe, T. (2022) · Applied Psychology Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1111/aphw.12427 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Tranel, K. L. (2011) · Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Personality, self-efficacy, and barriers to participation in a health promotion program
Hegwood, E. C. (2009) · UTC Scholar (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)
A Study of Exercise: Intentions and Behavior
Hoepf, M. R. (2015) · CORE Scholar (Wright State University)
Effects Of Work Physical Activity Culture And Basic Needs On Physical Activity Outcomes
Thomas, E. M. (2018) · Human Biology
Strategies to Improve Employee Exercise Participation in Corporate Fitness Centres
Brandner, J. K. (2018) · Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University)
(2020) · Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy · doi:10.31838/srp.2020.4.36
Occupational Differences in Barriers and Incentives for Routine Exercise among Municipal Workers
Melton, B. F., Kessinger, T. K., Ryan, G. A., & Riggs, A. J. (2019) · Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1249/tjx.0000000000000094
Lanham, S. N., Nagel, T. R., Rochani, H. D., Melton, B. F., & Cleveland, R. E. (2024) · International journal of exercise science · doi:10.70252/umfp3584
Manier, A. O. (2013) · UTC Scholar (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)
Evaluating the sustained psychological benefits of on-site employee health programs
Clancy, S. S. (2012) · UTC Scholar (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)
Nikolajsen, H., Richardson, E. V., Sandal, L. F., Juul-Kristensen, B., & Troelsen, J. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.15086119
- Authors
- Schwetschenau, H. M., O'Brien, W. H., Cunningham, C. J. L., & Jex, S. M.
- Affiliations
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
- Published
- 2008
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 371-380
- ISSN
- 1076-8998 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1307
- OpenAlex
- W1964767210
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 1.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Sports and Physical Education Studies
- Keywords
- barriers to physical activity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Motor Activity, Personality Inventory, Professional Corporations, Social Environment, Workplace, Fitness Centers
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review