Socio-environmental influences on physical activity among young people: a qualitative study
Abstract
This multi-methods qualitative study aimed to identify environmental factors that influence physical activity participation among young people in Edinburgh, Scotland. School pupils (aged 11-13 years) took part using photography, computer blogs, maps and focus group discussions (FGDs). Eleven computer sessions (n = 131) and 14 FGDs (n = 63) took place. Factors influencing physical activity behaviour included proximity and access to local facilities, family and peers and the school physical activity environment. A variety of facilitators and barriers to participation were also reported. Most notable was the importance of cost and value for money when choosing physical activities which, although more evident among pupils attending schools in areas of low socio-economic status (SES), was relevant across all SES groups. Reporting easy access to sports facilities was more common among pupils attending schools from high/medium SES. Use of greenspace for physical activity was reported among pupils from all schools, but was more common among those from low SES schools. Pupils were, in general, satisfied with the facilities available at school, but felt time for physical education could be increased. Findings may help inform interventions, aimed at promoting physical activity at local level.
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Break-time policies included policies on which grades get to participate in outdoor recess, rules about accessing equipment during break times, and regulations regarding access to physical activity facilities during breaks and out-of-hours/after-school.
“These included policies on which grades get to participate in outdoor recess 78, rules about accessing equipment during break times 38, 53, 56 and regulations regarding access to physical activity facilities during breaks and out‐of‐hours/after‐school (usually because of no supervision) 49, 53, 55.”
From The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a mixed-studies systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as [49]
Students and PE teachers perceived that they simply do not acquire enough PE.
“Students (and PE teachers) additionally perceived that they simply do not acquire enough PE 45, 47, 49, 52, 57, 78.”
From The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a mixed-studies systematic review (2016) · cites this paper as [49]
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- Authors
- Kirby, J., Levin, K. A., & Inchley, J.
- Affiliations
- University of St Andrews (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Kirby, J.
- Venue
- Health Education Research
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2013-08-22
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 954-969
- ISSN
- 0268-1153 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3648
- OpenAlex
- W2121952484
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 1.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Education Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Sports and Physical Education Studies
- Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
- Keywords
- physical activity, youth, school pupils, socio-environmental factors, access to sports facilities, green spaces, socioeconomic status, family and peer influence, physical education, barriers and facilitators
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Maps as Topic, Motor Activity, Photography, Risk Factors, Scotland, Social Environment, Socioeconomic Factors, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, Blogging
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