Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis
Abstract Background Physical activity levels are low among adolescents in Morocco; however, the influences on physical activity behavior of adolescents have not yet been explored in a qualitative study. Here, we explored potential social-ecological barriers and facilitators of physical activity in M...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-019-0775-y |
| _version_ | 1818175529699770368 |
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| author | El-Ammari Abdelghaffar El Kazdouh Hicham Bouftini Siham El Fakir Samira El Achhab Youness |
| author_facet | El-Ammari Abdelghaffar El Kazdouh Hicham Bouftini Siham El Fakir Samira El Achhab Youness |
| author_sort | El-Ammari Abdelghaffar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Physical activity levels are low among adolescents in Morocco; however, the influences on physical activity behavior of adolescents have not yet been explored in a qualitative study. Here, we explored potential social-ecological barriers and facilitators of physical activity in Moroccan adolescents with the goal of developing a successful intervention program aimed at improving their physical activity level. Methods For this study, we conducted 17 focus group discussions (100 participants, composed of 56 adolescents, 26 parents, and 18 teachers from two middle schools in Taza city, Morocco). Discussions during focus groups were facilitated by a semi-structured interview guide. Guide questions were underpinned by the social-ecological model as a theoretical framework. Data analysis was carried out by two coders using thematic analysis. Results We found that barriers and facilitators of physical activity in adolescents are organized into six themes that belong to different levels of the social-ecological model. Three themes belonged to the intrapersonal level (perceived motivating and limiting factors, physical activity awareness, and time constraints), two themes were classified into the interpersonal/cultural level (social support and gender and cultural norms), and one theme belonged to the environmental level (access to opportunities). Most of the themes were at the individual level, with each theme including both barriers and facilitators. Conclusions Adolescent participation in physical activity can be facilitated or hampered by many factors. Results from the focus group discussions showed that these factors belonged to different levels of the social-ecological model, but most were at the individual level. Our findings have several implications. First, they may offer suggestions for a tailored intervention program aimed at improving adolescent physical activity. Second, they can improve quantitative research by enriching the battery of questions of physical activity instruments (e.g., a question related to physical disability). Third, the proposed thematic map can contribute to understanding interactions and causal pathways in the social-ecological model. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:01:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3d5e33482804c0a9a53269f014e1548 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1342-078X 1347-4715 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:01:45Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3d5e33482804c0a9a53269f014e15482022-12-22T00:52:31ZengKomiyama Printing Co. LtdEnvironmental Health and Preventive Medicine1342-078X1347-47152019-04-0124111310.1186/s12199-019-0775-yPerspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysisEl-Ammari Abdelghaffar0El Kazdouh Hicham1Bouftini Siham2El Fakir Samira3El Achhab Youness4Laboratory of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahLaboratory of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahLaboratory of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahLaboratory of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahLaboratory of Epidemiology, Clinical Research and Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohamed Ben AbdellahAbstract Background Physical activity levels are low among adolescents in Morocco; however, the influences on physical activity behavior of adolescents have not yet been explored in a qualitative study. Here, we explored potential social-ecological barriers and facilitators of physical activity in Moroccan adolescents with the goal of developing a successful intervention program aimed at improving their physical activity level. Methods For this study, we conducted 17 focus group discussions (100 participants, composed of 56 adolescents, 26 parents, and 18 teachers from two middle schools in Taza city, Morocco). Discussions during focus groups were facilitated by a semi-structured interview guide. Guide questions were underpinned by the social-ecological model as a theoretical framework. Data analysis was carried out by two coders using thematic analysis. Results We found that barriers and facilitators of physical activity in adolescents are organized into six themes that belong to different levels of the social-ecological model. Three themes belonged to the intrapersonal level (perceived motivating and limiting factors, physical activity awareness, and time constraints), two themes were classified into the interpersonal/cultural level (social support and gender and cultural norms), and one theme belonged to the environmental level (access to opportunities). Most of the themes were at the individual level, with each theme including both barriers and facilitators. Conclusions Adolescent participation in physical activity can be facilitated or hampered by many factors. Results from the focus group discussions showed that these factors belonged to different levels of the social-ecological model, but most were at the individual level. Our findings have several implications. First, they may offer suggestions for a tailored intervention program aimed at improving adolescent physical activity. Second, they can improve quantitative research by enriching the battery of questions of physical activity instruments (e.g., a question related to physical disability). Third, the proposed thematic map can contribute to understanding interactions and causal pathways in the social-ecological model.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-019-0775-yPerspectivesBarriersFacilitatorsAdolescentsPhysical activityMorocco |
| spellingShingle | El-Ammari Abdelghaffar El Kazdouh Hicham Bouftini Siham El Fakir Samira El Achhab Youness Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Perspectives Barriers Facilitators Adolescents Physical activity Morocco |
| title | Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis |
| title_full | Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis |
| title_short | Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis |
| title_sort | perspectives of adolescents parents and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school age adolescents a qualitative analysis |
| topic | Perspectives Barriers Facilitators Adolescents Physical activity Morocco |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-019-0775-y |
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