Reducing Perceived Barriers To Being Active Through Campus Physical Activity Classes

PURPOSE: Perceived barriers to being active (PBBA) is a motivational construct related to people’s physical activity (PA) behaviors, and reducing these barriers is always a desirable goal of PA interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether on campus PA classes could reduce students’ PBBA. METHODS: Participants were 222 students (mean age: 20.79±1.03; 92 females) who enrolled in PA classes in a university in the US. The PA course contained a portion of lectures addressing benefits of PA engagement, consequences of lack of PA, and strategies of overcoming barriers to being active. Barriers to Being Active Quiz (CDC, 1999) was administered to participants at the beginning and the end of a semester with a 15-weel interval. The barrier quiz produced seven PBBA variables: lack of time, social influence, lack of energy, lack of willpower, fear of injury, lack of skill, and lack of resources. Each variable had a score ranging from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating higher levels of barriers. Additionally, an eighth PBBA variable was generated, namely the total PBBA score. The data at the two test points were compared using paired-samples t test, with the alpha level set at p < .006 (.05 ÷ 8) to control for familywise Type I error. RESULTS: Of the eight PBBA variables, five reduced significantly (p < .006) after the PA classes: lack of energy, pretest 3.00±2.48 vs. posttest 2.63±2.05; lack of willpower, 2.85±2.17 vs. 2.34±1.46; lack of skill, 0.74±0.49 vs. 0.47±0.43; lack of resources, 1.61±.57 vs. 1.32±1.30; and the overall PBBA score, 13.53±10.65 vs. 11.40±9.08. The remaining three PBBA variables also reduced but did not reach a significant level. CONCLUSIONS: PA classes containing lectures addressing benefits of PA engagement, consequences of lack of PA, and strategies of overcoming barriers to being active can significantly reduce most of PBBA among university students. Based on the reported relationship between PBBA and people’s PA behaviors, reduced PBBA may result in improved PA participation among university students.