Comparing Barriers and Facilitators to Physical ActivityAmong Underrepresented Minorities: Preliminary Outcomes from a Mixed-Methods Study

Physical activity (PA)'s benefits are well established, yet many U.S. adults fail to meet PA guidelines. This is especially true for minorities facing social inequities. This study explored PA's barriers and facilitators among urban Midwestern minorities using a mixed-methods approach framed on the socio-ecological model. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and June 2024 among community-dwelling minorities. Participants were grouped as completing low (LLPA) or high (HLPA) weekly leisure-time PA for comparison. Quantitative analysis included MANOVA, follow-up ANOVAs, and calculation of effect sizes. Qualitative data were assessed using inductive thematic analysis. Twenty-nine adults (44.83% Black, 41.37% Latino) participated in the study. The HLPA group (n = 18) reported higher leisure-time PA (<i>p</i> = 0.001, <i>d</i> = 2.21) and total PA (<i>p</i> = 0.02, <i>d</i> = 1.00) compared to the LLPA group (n = 11). LLPA participants faced more personal barriers to PA (<i>p</i> = 0.02, <i>d</i> = -0.92). Common barriers identified in the interviews included a lack of time and financial costs. Facilitators included social support and available PA facilities. Both groups achieved the USPA guidelines through different PA domains. Increasing social support and lowering PA-related costs could enhance participation. Addressing barriers and leveraging existing facilitators are crucial to increasing PA among minorities.