Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Perceived psychological, cultural, and environmental barriers to sport in children living in urban and non-urban settings in the Midlands, Portugal

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sport Sciences for Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Faced with the high number of children who do not meet the physical activity guidelines, the identification of possible associated factors is essential. This study aims to identify what motivates and constraints children to engage in physical activities, and to observe how gender and urbanization may predict the perception of those barriers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study in 793 children (51.3% girls) aged 6–10 years was carried in an urban and non-urban setting. Children were asked to self-report sport barriers. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to observe association of barriers with gender and place of residence.

Results

Barriers like “I am not good at sports”, “I do not like to be active”, and “I am not interest in pursuing a career related to sport” were more prevalent in girls than in boys. Urban children had higher odds than their non-urban peers of reporting that they do not watch women’s sport on television, and also lack of time, facilities nearby and weather as barriers to engage in sport. However, non-urban children said that their family engages in less physical activities with them compared to urban children.

Conclusions

Differences according to the gender were visible in psychological barriers, with girls being less motivated to be physically active. Urban children are at a greater risk of not being sufficiently active since they reported more physical and organizational barriers than non-urban ones. Different barriers, according to children’s gender and urbanization, should be considered in future strategies to promote physical activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fredricks JA, Eccles JS (2004) Parental influences on youth involvement in sports. In: Weiss WR (ed) Developmental Sports and Exercise Psychology: A lifespan perspective. Fitness Information Technology, Morgantown, p 145–164

    Google Scholar 

  2. Van Hecke L, Loyen A, Verloigne M et al (2016) Variation in population levels of physical activity in European children and adolescents according to cross-European studies: a systematic literature review within DEDIPAC. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 13:70. doi:10.1186/s12966-016-0396-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Mota J, e Silva MJC, Raimundo AM, Sardinha LB (2016) Results from Portugal’s 2016 report card on physical activity for children and youth. J Phys Act Heal 13:S242–S245. doi:10.1123/jpah.2016-0293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Borges A, Gomes TN, Santos D et al (2015) A count model to study the correlates of 60 min of daily physical activity in Portuguese children. Int J Environ Res Public Health 12:2557–2573. doi:10.3390/ijerph120302557

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Gucciardi DF, Jackson B (2015) Understanding sport continuation: an integration of the theories of planned behaviour and basic psychological needs. J Sci Med Sport 18:31–36. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2013.11.011

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dias DF, Loch MR, Ronque ERV et al (2015) Perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity and associated factors in adolescents. Cien Saude Colet 20:3339–3350. doi:10.1590/1413-812320152011.00592014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Basterfield L, Gardner L, Reilly JK et al (2016) Can’t play, won’t play: longitudinal changes in perceived barriers to participation in sports clubs across the child–adolescent transition. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2:e000079. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000079

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Sirard JR, Pfeiffer KA, Pate RR (2006) Motivational factors associated with sports program participation in middle school students. J Adolesc Heal 38:696–703. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.07.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Owen N, Humpel N, Leslie E et al (2004) Understanding environmental influences on walking; review and research agenda. Am J Prev Med 27:67–76

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sterdt E, Liersch S, Walter U (2014) Correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents: a systematic review of reviews. Health Educ J 73:72–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kahn JA, Huang B, Gillman MW et al (2008) Patterns and determinants of physical activity in U.S. adolescents. J Adolesc Heal 42:369–377. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.11.143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lubans DR, Morgan PJ, Bauman AE et al (2009) Social, psychological and behavioural correlates of pedometer step counts in a sample of Australian adolescents. J Sci Med Sport 12:141–147. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2007.06.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gomes H, Pinto D, Sequeira S et al (2011) Prevalence of barriers for physical activity in Portuguese adolescents. Br J Sports Med 45:A19. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090606.61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Brockman R, Jago R, Fox KR (2011) Children’s active play: self-reported motivators, barriers and facilitators. BMC Public Health 11:461. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-461

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Moore JB, Jilcott SB, Shores KA et al (2010) A qualitative examination of perceived barriers and facilitators of physical activity for urban and rural youth. Health Educ Res 25:355–367. doi:10.1093/her/cyq004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ekelund U, Luan J, Sherar LB et al (2012) Moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. JAMA 307:704–712. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Pearce MS, Basterfield L, Mann KD et al (2012) Early predictors of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in 8–10 year old children: the Gateshead Millennium study. PLoS One 7:1–10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0037975

    Google Scholar 

  18. Telford RM, Telford RD, Cunningham RB et al (2013) Longitudinal patterns of physical activity in children aged 8 to 12 years: the LOOK study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 10:81. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-10-81

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Baptista F, Santos DA, Silva AM et al (2012) Prevalence of the Portuguese population attaining sufficient physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 44:466–473. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e318230e441

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ismailov RM, Leatherdale ST (2010) Rural–urban differences in overweight and obesity among a large sample of adolescents in Ontario. Int J Pediatr Obes 5:351–360. doi:10.3109/17477160903449994

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Cicognani E, Albanesi C, Zani B (2008) The impact of residential context on adolescents’ subjective well being. J Commun Appl Soc Psychol 18:558–575. doi:10.1002/casp.972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Machado-Rodrigues AM, Coelho-E-Silva MJ, Mota J et al (2014) Urban–rural contrasts in fitness, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour in adolescents. Health Promot Int 29:118–129. doi:10.1093/heapro/das054

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Trost SG, Pate RR, Sallis JF et al (2002) Age and gender differences in objectively measured physical activity in youth. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34:350–355

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Jago R, Thompson JL, Page AS et al (2009) Licence to be active: parental concerns and 10–11-year-old children’s ability to be independently physically active. J Public Health (Oxf) 31:472–477. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdp053

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Monteiro (2000) Caracterização dos Espaços Urbanos na RLVT: O contributo da análise discriminante. Rev Estud Reg Inst Nac Estat 2(1):21–46

    Google Scholar 

  26. Marques A, Peralta M, Martins J et al (2016) Psychosocial correlates of organized physical activity in Portuguese urban youth. Mot Rev Educ Fís 22:327–334. doi:10.1590/s1980-6574201600040017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Slater A, Tiggemann M (2011) Gender differences in adolescent sport participation, teasing, self-objectification and body image concerns. J Adolesc 34:455–463. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.06.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Pawlowski C, Tjørnhøj-Thomsen T, Schipperijn J et al (2014) Barriers for recess physical activity: a gender specific qualitative focus group exploration. BMC Public Health 14:639. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-639

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Robbins LB, Sikorskii A, Hamel LM et al (2009) Gender comparisons of perceived benefits of and barriers to physical activity in middle school youth. Res Nurs Health 32:163–176. doi:10.1002/nur.20311

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Knisel E, Opitz S, Wossmann M, Keteihuf K (2009) Sport motivation and physical activity of students in three European schools. Int J Phys Educ 46:40–53

    Google Scholar 

  31. Fredricks JA, Eccles JS (2005) Family socialization, gender, and sport motivation and involvement. J Sport Exerc Psychol 27:3–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Guillet E, Sarrazin P, Fontayne P, Brustad RJ (2006) Understanding female sport attrition in a stereotypical male sport within the framework of Eccles’s expectancy value model. Psychol Women Q 30:358–368. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2006.00311.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Biddle SJH, Asare M (2011) Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: a review of reviews. Br J Sports Med 45:886–895. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Hardin M, Greer JD (2009) The influence of gender-role socialization, media use and sports participation on perceptions of gender-appropriate sports. J Sport Behav 32:207–226

    Google Scholar 

  35. Loucaides CA, Chedzoy SM, Bennett N (2004) Differences in physical activity levels between urban and rural school children in Cyprus. Health Educ Res 19:138–147. doi:10.1093/her/cyg014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Johns DP, Ha AS (1999) Home and recess physical activity of Hong Kong children. Res Q Exerc Sport 70:319–323. doi:10.1080/02701367.1999.10608051

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cordovil R, Lopes F, Neto C (2015) Children’s (in)dependent mobility in Portugal. J Sci Med Sport 18:299–303. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2014.04.013

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bathrellou E, Lazarou C, Panagiotakos DB, Sidossis LS (2007) Physical activity patterns and sedentary behaviors of children from urban and rural areas of Cyprus. Cent Eur J Public Health 15:66–70

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sallis JF, Alcaraz JE, McKenzie TL, Hovell MF (1999) Predictors of change in children’s physical activity over 20 months. Variations by gender and level of adiposity. Am J Prev Med 16:222–229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Moore LL, Lombardi DA, White MJ et al (1991) Influence of parents’ physical activity levels on activity levels of young children. J Pediatr 118:215–219

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Zecevic CA, Tremblay L, Lovsin T et al (2010) Parental influence on young children’s physical activity. Int J Pediatr 2010:468526. doi:10.1155/2010/468526

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Fuemmeler BF, Anderson CB, Mâsse LC (2011) Parent–child relationship of directly measured physical activity. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 8:17. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-17

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Lijuan W, Jiancui S, Suzhe Z (2017) Parental influence on the physical activity of Chinese children. Eur Phys Educ Rev 23:110–126. doi:10.1177/1356336X16641024

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors specially thank the families and children for their participation in the study, and to the school for their helpful cooperation. This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) under Grant SFRH/BD/90737/2012.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, CIAS, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal

    Daniela Rodrigues, Cristina Padez & Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues

  2. Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Daniela Rodrigues, Cristina Padez & Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues

  3. High School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal

    Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Daniela Rodrigues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cristina Padez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Rodrigues.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants—ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rodrigues, D., Padez, C. & Machado-Rodrigues, A.M. Perceived psychological, cultural, and environmental barriers to sport in children living in urban and non-urban settings in the Midlands, Portugal. Sport Sci Health 13, 565–571 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0382-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0382-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation