Factors Influencing Saudi Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Qualitative Study Based on the Social Ecological Model
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Participant Recruitment and Procedures
2.2. Focus Groups: Practical Considerations and Procedures
2.3. Pilot Focus Group
2.4. Data Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Strengths and Limitations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Boakye, K.; Bovbjerg, M.; Schuna, J., Jr.; Branscum, A.; Varma, R.P.; Ismail, R.; Barbarash, O.; Dominguez, J.; Altuntas, Y.; Anjana, R.M. Urbanization and physical activity in the global Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study. Sci. Rep. 2023, 13, 290. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Badawi, S.; Farag, A.A. Young Saudi Women’s travel behavior change over 2015/2020. J. Transp. Health 2021, 21, 101080. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- World Health Organization. Physical Activity Fact Sheet; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Kohl, H.W.; Craig, C.L.; Lambert, E.V.; Inoue, S.; Alkandari, J.R.; Leetongin, G.; Kahlmeier, S. The pandemic of physical inactivity: Global action for public health. Lancet 2012, 380, 294–305. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bull, F.C.; Bauman, A.E. Physical inactivity: The “Cinderella” risk factor for noncommunicable disease prevention. J. Health Commun. 2011, 16, 13–26. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Micklesfield, L.K.; Hanson, S.K.; Lobelo, F.; Cunningham, S.A.; Hartman, T.J.; Norris, S.A.; Stein, A.D. Adolescent physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep in relation to body composition at age 18 years in urban South Africa, Birth-to-Twenty+ Cohort. BMC Pediatr. 2021, 21, 30. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Al-Nakeeb, Y.; Lyons, M.; Collins, P.; Al-Nuaim, A.; Al-Hazzaa, H.; Duncan, M.J.; Nevill, A. Obesity, physical activity and sedentary behavior amongst British and Saudi youth: A cross-cultural study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 1490–1506. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Al-Nuaim, A.A.; Al-Nakeeb, Y.; Lyons, M.; Al-Hazzaa, H.M.; Nevill, A.; Collins, P.; Duncan, M.J. The prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviours relative to obesity among adolescents from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: Rural versus urban variations. J. Nutr. Metab. 2012, 2012, 417589. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Thompson, A.M.; Humbert, M.L.; Mirwald, R.L. A longitudinal study of the impact of childhood and adolescent physical activity experiences on adult physical activity perceptions and behaviors. Qual. Health Res. 2003, 13, 358–377. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Loprinzi, P.D.; Davis, R.E.; Fu, Y.-C. Early motor skill competence as a mediator of child and adult physical activity. Prev. Med. Rep. 2015, 2, 833–838. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- McCrorie, P.R.; Fenton, C.; Ellaway, A. Combining GPS, GIS, and accelerometry to explore the physical activity and environment relationship in children and young people-a review. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2014, 11, 1–14. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rogers, A.A.; Padilla-Walker, L.M.; McLean, R.D.; Hurst, J.L. Trajectories of perceived parental psychological control across adolescence and implications for the development of depressive and anxiety symptoms. J. Youth Adolesc. 2020, 49, 136–149. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gersh, E.; Richardson, L.P.; Katzman, K.; Spielvogle, H.; Arghira, A.C.; Zhou, C.; McCarty, C.A. Adolescent health risk behaviors: Parental concern and concordance between parent and adolescent reports. Acad. Pediatr. 2018, 18, 66–72. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Smith, M.; Hosking, J.; Woodward, A.; Witten, K.; MacMillan, A.; Field, A.; Baas, P.; Mackie, H. Systematic literature review of built environment effects on physical activity and active transport–an update and new findings on health equity. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 2017, 14, 1–27. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Brannan, M.G.; Foster, C.E.; Timpson, C.M.; Clarke, N.; Sunyer, E.; Amlani, A.; Murphy, M.H. Active 10—A new approach to increase physical activity in inactive people in England. Prog. Cardiovasc. Dis. 2019, 62, 135–139. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Aubert, S.; Barnes, J.D.; Demchenko, I.; Hawthorne, M.; Abdeta, C.; Abi Nader, P.; Sala, J.C.A.; Aguilar-Farias, N.; Aznar, S.; Bakalár, P. Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Card grades for children and adolescents: Results and analyses from 57 countries. J. Phys. Act. Health 2022, 19, 700–728. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wyszyńska, J.; Ring-Dimitriou, S.; Thivel, D.; Weghuber, D.; Hadjipanayis, A.; Grossman, Z.; Ross-Russell, R.; Dereń, K.; Mazur, A. Physical activity in the prevention of childhood obesity: The position of the European childhood obesity group and the European academy of pediatrics. Front. Pediatr. 2020, 8, 662. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pasch, K.E.; Nelson, M.C.; Lytle, L.A.; Moe, S.G.; Perry, C.L. Adoption of risk-related factors through early adolescence: Associations with weight status and implications for causal mechanisms. J. Adolesc. Health 2008, 43, 387–393. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Buchan, D.S.; Ollis, S.; Thomas, N.E.; Baker, J.S. Physical activity behaviour: An overview of current and emergent theoretical practices. J. Obes. 2012, 2012, 546459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sutton, S. How does the health action process approach (HAPA) bridge the intention–behavior gap? An examination of the model’s causal structure. Appl. Psychol. 2008, 57, 66–74. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nevill, D.S. Positive Interventions: Developing a Theoretical Model to Guide Their Development and Use; University of Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Nigg, C.R.; Borrelli, B.; Maddock, J.; Dishman, R.K. A theory of physical activity maintenance. Appl. Psychol. 2008, 57, 544–560. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Safi, A. The Impact of Workplace Physical Activity Interventions on University Employees Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change; Birmingham City University: Birmingham, UK, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Hochbaum, G.; Rosenstock, I.; Kegels, S. Health Belief Model; United States Public Health Service: Washington, DC, USA, 1952. [Google Scholar]
- Prochaska, J.O.; DiClemente, C.C. Transtheoretical therapy: Toward a more integrative model of change. Psychother. Theory Res. Pract. 1982, 19, 276. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Deci, E.L.; Ryan, R.M. The general causality orientations scale: Self-determination in personality. J. Res. Personal. 1985, 19, 109–134. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- McLeroy, K.R.; Bibeau, D.; Steckler, A.; Glanz, K. An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ. Q. 1988, 15, 351–377. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Olavarria, M.; Beaulac, J.; Bélanger, A.; Young, M.; Aubry, T. Organizational cultural competence in community health and social service organizations: How to conduct a self-assessment. J. Cult. Divers. 2009, 16, 140. [Google Scholar]
- Metzler, M.W.; McKenzie, T.L.; van der Mars, H.; Barrett-Williams, S.L.; Ellis, R. Health optimizing physical education (HOPE): A new curriculum for school programs—Part 1: Establishing the need and describing the model. J. Phys. Educ. Recreat. Danc. 2013, 84, 41–47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fleury, J.; Lee, S.M. The social ecological model and physical activity in African American women. Am. J. Community Psychol. 2006, 37, 129–140. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Langille, J.-L.D.; Rodgers, W.M. Exploring the influence of a social ecological model on school-based physical activity. Health Educ. Behav. 2010, 37, 879–894. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, H.; Dai, X.; Wu, J.; Wu, X.; Nie, X. Influence of urban green open space on residents’ physical activity in China. BMC Public Health 2019, 19, 1093. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Koshoedo, S.A.; Paul-Ebhohimhen, V.A.; Jepson, R.G.; Watson, M.C. Understanding the complex interplay of barriers to physical activity amongst black and minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom: A qualitative synthesis using meta-ethnography. BMC Public Health 2015, 15, 643. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Essiet, I.A.; Baharom, A.; Shahar, H.K.; Uzochukwu, B. Application of the Socio-Ecological Model to predict physical activity behaviour among Nigerian University students. Pan Afr. Med. J. 2017, 26, 110. [Google Scholar]
- Khalaf, A.; Ekblom, Ö.; Kowalski, J.; Berggren, V.; Westergren, A.; Al-Hazzaa, H. Female university students’ physical activity levels and associated factors—A cross-sectional study in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 3502–3517. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Mahmudiono, T.; Segalita, C.; Rosenkranz, R.R. Socio-ecological model of correlates of double burden of malnutrition in developing countries: A narrative review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3730. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wang, Y.; Li, N.; Zhu, J.; Deng, Q.; Hu, J.; Xu, J.; Zhou, J. Association between socio-ecological factors and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among older adults in Sichuan, China: A structural equation modeling analysis. BMC Geriatr. 2022, 22, 60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Stokols, D. Translating social ecological theory into guidelines for community health promotion. Am. J. Health Promot. 1996, 10, 282–298. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Packham, A.; Street, B. The effects of physical education on student fitness, achievement, and behavior. Econ. Educ. Rev. 2019, 72, 1–18. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Safi, A.; Khawaja, I.; Collins, P.; Myers, T. A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring the Physical Activity Levels of Afghans and Other South Asian Youth in the UK. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 1087. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Safi, A.; Myers, T.D. Barriers to Physical Activity: A comparison of Afghans living in the UK and Afghanistan. Adv. Phys. Educ. 2021, 11, 103–117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Al-Nuaim, A.; Safi, A. The Correlation of Built Environment on Hypertension, and Weight Status amongst Adolescence in Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 16763. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Potwarka, L.R.; Kaczynski, A.T.; Flack, A.L. Places to play: Association of park space and facilities with healthy weight status among children. J. Community Health 2008, 33, 344–350. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Larson, N.I.; Story, M.T.; Nelson, M.C. Neighborhood environments: Disparities in access to healthy foods in the US. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2009, 36, 74–81.e10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zuckerman-Parker, M.; Shank, G. The town hall focus group: A new format for qualitative research methods. Qual. Rep. 2008, 13, 630–635. [Google Scholar]
- Safi, A.; Cole, M.; Kelly, A.L.; Zariwala, M.G.; Walker, N.C. Workplace Physical Activity Barriers and Facilitators: A Qualitative Study Based on Employees Physical Activity Levels. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 9442. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Subramanian, K.R. Myth and mystery of shrinking attention span. Int. J. Trend Res. Dev. 2018, 5, 1–6. [Google Scholar]
- Kirk, S. Methodological and ethical issues in conducting qualitative research with children and young people: A literature review. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 2007, 44, 1250–1260. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alhojailan, M.I.; Ibrahim, M. Thematic analysis: A critical review of its process and evaluation. West East J. Soc. Sci. 2012, 1, 39–47. [Google Scholar]
- Javadi, M.; Zarea, K. Understanding thematic analysis and its pitfall. J. Client Care 2016, 1, 33–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Braun, V.; Clarke, V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006, 3, 77–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lincoln, Y.S.; Guba, E.G. Naturalistic Inquiry; Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA, 1985. [Google Scholar]
- Al-Nuaim, A.; Safi, A. The Impact of Environment on Physical Activity Levels and Obesity among Saudi Arabia Youth: Comparison of Urban; Rural Farm and Rural Desert Geographical Locations. Phys. Act. Health 2022, 6, 86–95. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Doyle, C.; Khan, A.; Burton, N. Recreational physical activity context and type preferences among male and female Emirati university students. Int. Health 2019, 11, 507–512. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chimot, C.; Louveau, C. Becoming a man while playing a female sport: The construction of masculine identity in boys doing rhythmic gymnastics. Int. Rev. Sociol. Sport 2010, 45, 436–456. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Humbert, M.L.; Chad, K.E.; Bruner, M.W.; Spink, K.S.; Muhajarine, N.; Anderson, K.D.; Girolami, T.M.; Odnokon, P.; Gryba, C.R. Using a naturalistic ecological approach to examine the factors influencing youth physical activity across grades 7 to 12. Health Educ. Behav. 2008, 35, 158–173. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hu, D.; Zhou, S.; Crowley-McHattan, Z.J.; Liu, Z. Factors that influence participation in physical activity in school-aged children and adolescents: A systematic review from the social ecological model perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 3147. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Abdelghaffar, E.-A.; Hicham, E.K.; Siham, B.; Samira, E.F.; Youness, E.A. Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: A qualitative analysis. Environ. Health Prev. Med. 2019, 24, 1–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Parker, A.G.; Trott, E.; Bourke, M.; Klepac Pogrmilovic, B.; Dadswell, K.; Craike, M.; McLean, S.A.; Dash, S.; Pascoe, M. Young people’s attitudes towards integrating physical activity as part of mental health treatment: A cross-sectional study in youth mental health services. Early Interv. Psychiatry 2022, 16, 518–526. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Pate, R.R.; Saunders, R.P.; O’Neill, J.R.; Dowda, M. Overcoming barriers to physical activity: Helping youth be more active. ACSMs Health Fit. J. 2011, 15, 7–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Koski, P.; Hirvensalo, M.; Villberg, J.; Kokko, S. Young People in the Social World of Physical Activities: Meanings and Barriers. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 5466. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hansen, D.M.; Larson, R.W. Amplifiers of developmental and negative experiences in organized activities: Dosage, motivation, lead roles, and adult-youth ratios. J. Appl. Dev. Psychol. 2007, 28, 360–374. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Biddle, S.; Mutrie, N. Psychology of Physical Activity: Determinants, Well-Being and Interventions; Routledge: London, UK, 2007. [Google Scholar]
- Shields, N.; Synnot, A. Perceived barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for children with disability: A qualitative study. BMC Pediatr. 2016, 16, 9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- González, K.; Fuentes, J.; Márquez, J.L. Physical inactivity, sedentary behavior and chronic diseases. Korean J. Fam. Med. 2017, 38, 111. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Asare, M.; Danquah, S.A. The relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and mental health in Ghanaian adolescents. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry Ment. Health 2015, 9, 1–8. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alahmadi, M.A.; Almasoud, K.H. Prevalence of Sedentary Behaviors and Sleep Duration among Saudi Soccer Players. Prevalence 2023. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alageel, S.; Alhujaili, M.; Altwaijri, Y.; Bilal, L.; Alsukait, R. Barriers and facilitators to adopting healthier lifestyle among low-income women in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study. Health Expect. 2023, 26, 1202–1212. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Withall, J.; Jago, R.; Fox, K.R. Why some do but most don’t. Barriers and enablers to engaging low-income groups in physical activity programmes: A mixed methods study. BMC Public Health 2011, 11, 507. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kanters, M.A.; Bocarro, J.N.; Moore, R.; Floyd, M.F.; Carlton, T.A. Afterschool shared use of public school facilities for physical activity in North Carolina. Prev. Med. 2014, 69, S44–S48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Draper, C.; Grobler, L.; Micklesfield, L.; Norris, S. Impact of social norms and social support on diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour of adolescents: A scoping review. Child Care Health Dev. 2015, 41, 654–667. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Trost, S.G.; Loprinzi, P.D. Parental influences on physical activity behavior in children and adolescents: A brief review. Am. J. Lifestyle Med. 2011, 5, 171–181. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Perez, D.; Thalken, J.K.; Ughelu, N.E.; Knight, C.J.; Massey, W.V. Nowhere to go: Parents’ descriptions of children’s physical activity during a global pandemic. Front. Public Health 2021, 9, 642932. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Miles, R. Neighborhood disorder, perceived safety, and readiness to encourage use of local playgrounds. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008, 34, 275–281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Norman, G.J.; Nutter, S.K.; Ryan, S.; Sallis, J.F.; Calfas, K.J.; Patrick, K. Community design and access to recreational facilities as correlates of adolescent physical activity and body-mass index. J. Phys. Act. Health 2006, 3, S118–S128. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shores, K.A.; West, S.T. The relationship between built park environments and physical activity in four park locations. J. Public Health Manag. Pract. 2008, 14, e9–e16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Slingerland, M.; Borghouts, L. Direct and indirect influence of physical education-based interventions on physical activity: A review. J. Phys. Act. Health 2011, 8, 866–878. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Morton, K.L.; Atkin, A.; Corder, K.; Suhrcke, M.; Van Sluijs, E. The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: A mixed-studies systematic review. Obes. Rev. 2016, 17, 142–158. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Brockman, R.; Jago, R.; Fox, K.R. Children’s active play: Self-reported motivators, barriers and facilitators. BMC Public Health 2011, 11, 461. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Carson, V.; Spence, J.C. Seasonal variation in physical activity among children and adolescents: A review. Pediatr. Exerc. Sci. 2010, 22, 81–92. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Question 1. | Explored the participants’ definitions of ‘PA’, including their attitudes towards PA and awareness of PA benefits. |
Question 2. | Assessed the participants’ perceptions of their home environment; this included sedentary behaviour and domestic sport equipment. |
Question 3. | Assessed the participants’ perceptions of their school environment, including PE lessons and sport facilities in the school. |
Question 4. | Assessed the participants’ perceptions of social influences; this included family, peers, and societal influences. |
Question 5. | Assessed the participants’ perceptions of neighbourhood characteristics, such as sports and recreational facilities, access to walkways, availability of parks, and access to cycling paths. |
Question 6. | Identified the barriers and motivations reported by the respondents when participating in PA, and the suggestions to promote PA from their points of view. |
Themes | Selected Quotes from Participants |
---|---|
Intrapersonal Factors | The individual factors discussed were varied as outlined |
Awareness/definition of PA | M8: ‘moving the body or any part of the body could be PA’ (Urban school). |
F37: ‘anything that activates blood circulation, I consider it as PA, even walking, or things that I do such as housework, for example, cleaning and washing or any things that require movement and stimulate blood circulation’ (Rural farm school). | |
Participating in PA | M14: ‘it is always available and affordable, does not need special places and equipment; you can play football anywhere’ (Urban school). |
F16: ‘I do not do sports, but I only do it when I go for shopping. Hahah (group laughing). It is true, we all do walk exercise when we do shopping’ (Urban school). | |
Perceived health benefits | M52: ‘building up muscle reduces joint diseases and osteoporosis; a person who practices sport and PA at the age of 50 years or 60 years looks like someone of the age of 20 or 30 years’ (Rural desert school). |
F38: ‘sports are the most important thing, it protects us from disease and reduces weight, and even as we get older, playing sports postpones aging symptoms’ (Rural farm school). | |
Negative attitudes towards PA | M36: ‘I do not like sports…I do not like to do sports and wear sports uniform since I was a child… I prefer meeting friends and talking with them instead of playing sports’ (Rural farm school). |
F56: ‘if I start sports and then suddenly stopped doing sports, I will gain more weight than before I started’ (Rural desert school). | |
Lack of time | F25: ‘I was playing sports in the past, but now I do not have enough time. I am busy in my study and exams, so I do no not have time to go to the gym. There is no time at all, so I stopped sports’ (Urban school). |
F40: ‘I used to do exercise almost on a daily basis; now I cannot have time for exercise, I do help my mother with housework and then I study, and I do my homework, then sleep’ (Rural farm school). | |
Laziness | M25: ‘laziness and sluggish, especially after having meals. This time person looking for the TV and to sit’ (Urban school). |
Freedom | F13: ‘boys can go out with their friends to exercise, but for girls, even if her family allows her to go out, her friends’ families do not agree for girls to go out for sports. So, the girl loses the companionship advantage in sports and encouragement’ (Urban school). |
F9: ‘the community in which I live; they have only sports for boys, girls cannot go out and do sports, they look at her as if she is doing a big misdemeanour’ (Urban school). | |
Cost | F22: ‘society does not encourage doing sports. There are no sports clubs especially for girls, and if some were available, they will be too expensive. Many girls who want to go to the sports club cannot go due to the high cost of membership’ (Urban school). |
M22: ‘football field fees vary from field to another, but in general the fee is around 250 Saudi riyal… for middle school students cannot afford the fee so they play in the street, but for high school students it is a reasonable price for us’ (Urban school). | |
Interpersonal Factors | Social environment was the prevailing issue mentioned by groups that could influence their PA |
Cultural and social norms | M62: ‘we live in the desert area, we do not live in the city such Al-Ahsa or Al-Kharj, we are a well-known family, and we are famous in camels; we cannot do sports’ (Rural desert school). |
F9: ‘even if I wanted to go and do sports, they all said you are thin, you do not need sports, also all females who go to the gym, they are adult females. There are no girls my age’ (Urban school). | |
F39: ’this is depending on the family beliefs more than village beliefs. Some families agree for girls to go out to walk and some families do not, some families are very strict in their beliefs and culture norms, and some are normal’ (Rural farm school). | |
M62: ‘I do not wear sports uniform. From society’s view, you have to wear Thoub and Ghotrah (traditional clothes). If you wear sports uniform you will be a ‘bad boy’, even if you wear normal shirt and pants to the mall people will look at you in a bad way’ (Rural desert school). | |
M54: ‘we are Bedouin, (moderator: so what); it is a shame on us if we wear sports kit’ (Rural desert school). | |
Social support | M33: ‘my father does not do sports, because he has something better than exercise, for example, he reads books, He believes that reading is more important than sports’ (Urban school). |
F18: ‘my family always disappoints me, with their view of sports as a waste of time, they say to me, why do you do sports instead of study’ (Urban school). | |
M40: ‘sometimes I play football and meet friends for fun’ (Rural farm school). | |
Environment, Community, and Organisation | Participants’ perceptions indicated several environmental factors that play an important role in influencing their PA |
Neighbourhood characteristics | M25: ‘there is only one football field playground, and it is shared by many neighbourhoods’ (Urban school). |
F18: ‘I want to know why these places are not for girls? Why are all these places just for boys and not girls? Until when we are like this situation? Listen, government will provide places and sports facilities, but the problem is in society, the society is sick’ (Urban school). | |
School environment/facilities | M52: ‘Physical education is 45 min, first 5 min for changing and dressing, after you just start play, we stopped 5 or 10 min before for changing and dressing again and smell badly of sweat’ (Rural desert school). |
M36: ‘I do not like playing football, physical education is just football’ (Rural farm school). | |
M16: ‘if there is changing room available and indoor playground, we will wear sports uniform and play. However, now, where we can change? In the class or the playground?’ (Urban school). | |
Home environment | M10: ‘I use the TV for PlayStation more than to watch TV channels’ (Urban school). |
F46: ‘when I am in the living room I am on the TV, I mean all my time in the house will be on the TV’ (Rural farm school). | |
M26: ‘for social networking, Facebook and Twitter, and sometimes I use the internet to search information for homework’ (Urban school). | |
F14: ‘female websites, fashion, cooking and others’ (Urban school). | |
Weather | M52: ‘the weather in the desert extremely hot, no one can go out during the day, the sun will burn it ha ha ha (laughing)’ (Rural desert school). |
M10: ‘depending on the weather, if in the winter we play during daytime, but in summer I prefer at night’ (Urban school). | |
M45: ‘at the end of the daytime the sun’s heat becomes mild, so we can play’ (Rural farm school). | |
Safety | M52: ‘Sometimes if you walk at night, it is possible someone hits you with his car when you walk, he could be drunk or on drugs, and you can be the victim’ (Rural desert school). |
F50: ‘if you are with your father or brother, it is fine, but alone someone could harass you’ (Rural desert school). | |
Suggestions (Strategies) for Policymakers to Enhance PA | The participants from all groups identified several strategies and suggestions to improve physical activity for people, as outlined below: |
Neighbourhood characteristics | M19: ‘the city council should establish sports fields for each neighbourhood and should run sports neighbourhoods’ leagues’ (Urban school). |
F2: ‘increase the number of women’s sports clubs. These clubs should be integrated with different sports activities in all neighbourhoods. We have one small gym inside the beauty shop’ (Urban school). | |
F39: ‘sidewalks, and I hope to increase spaces and places for the exercise’ (Rural farm school). | |
Cost of activities | F25: ‘If there is a sports centre for each neighbourhood, and family membership for families. And fees for membership but not expensive, these fees go to coaches and maintenance, and beside this centre a small park. A person who has membership can use the centre and do sports’ (Urban school). |
Awareness of the importance of physical activities | F55: ‘Increase the awareness of sports for mothers and fathers and society which results in them encouraging their children to do sports’ (Rural desert school). |
F18: ‘Before focusing on a girl, we should focus on her house and family. And increase their awareness of sports. This can be from school or the TV or flyers and brochures, then we can focus on girls’ (Urban school). |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Al-Nuaim, A.; Safi, A. Factors Influencing Saudi Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Qualitative Study Based on the Social Ecological Model. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 5785. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105785
Al-Nuaim A, Safi A. Factors Influencing Saudi Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Qualitative Study Based on the Social Ecological Model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(10):5785. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105785
Chicago/Turabian StyleAl-Nuaim, Anwar, and Ayazullah Safi. 2023. "Factors Influencing Saudi Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Qualitative Study Based on the Social Ecological Model" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 10: 5785. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105785