Personal and sociocultural factors as barriers to exercise among female university students. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that the illness rate is increasing day by day in the world and physical inactivity is a major factor of it. According to studies physical inactivity is the 4th most leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 6% of all casualties. Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to explore the personal and sociocultural factors that act as barriers to exercise among female university students. By examining these factors, the study seeks to provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and health professionals to develop targeted strategies that address the identified barriers and promote physical activity among this demographic. Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in different universities of Faisalabad. The sample size of 800 female university students of age 17-27 was included in the study through a simple random sampling method. Females with recent injury, pregnant, mentally retarded female were excluded. Data was collected by self-generated questionnaire and the collected data was analyzed through SPSS version 16 Results: The finding of the study showed that females had many personal and sociocultural factors which acted as an obstacle in their exercise and made them inactive. Most prominent obstacle for females related to sociocultural factors was the lack of sidewalks in parks which provide enjoyable and safe strolling and a smaller number of gyms specifically for females. And another prominent personal barrier in exercise was time shortage and the parent’s preference of academic activities over exercise. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the personal and sociocultural factors that hinder exercise participation among female university students. The findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions to address these barriers. Strategies focused on enhancing self-efficacy, promoting positive body image, and time management skills can help alleviate personal barriers.