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. 2019 Apr 9;24(1):21.
doi: 10.1186/s12199-019-0775-y.

Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis

El-Ammari Abdelghaffar  1 , El Kazdouh Hicham  2 , Bouftini Siham  2 , El Fakir Samira  2 , El Achhab Youness  2   3
Affiliations

Perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers on barriers and facilitators of physical activity among school-age adolescents: a qualitative analysis

El-Ammari Abdelghaffar et al. Environ Health Prev Med. .

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.

Keywords: Adolescents; Barriers; Facilitators; Morocco; Perspectives; Physical activity; Qualitative study.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca Research Ethics Committee and by the National Control Commission for the Protection of Personal Data (A-RS-193-2015) and authorized by The Provincial Directorate of Education Ministry in Taza. Informed consent was obtained from all parents and teachers. Adolescent consent forms were signed by their parents, but an additionally verbal consent was also given by adolescent participants.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they do not have competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Thematic map showing identified themes and potential interactions between them
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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