Loading...
Identifying the Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity in Pre-Adolescent Boys of Color
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) is essential for promoting overall health and well-being in children. However, there is a significant gap in research regarding the PA levels of pre-adolescent African American and Hispanic pre-adolescent boys (aged 7 to 12 years). This developmental stage is critical for establishing lifelong health behaviors, as children are particularly impressionable and responsive to environmental influences. Despite the known benefits of PA, limited research has been conducted to identify the barriers and facilitators that affect African American and Hispanic boys' ability to engage in adequate levels of PA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators of PA among African American and Hispanic pre-adolescent boys, as well as to determine the components needed for an effective PA intervention. A total of three focus groups (one guardian focus group and two children focus groups) were conducted with eight guardian and son dyads. The first focus group took place during a parent night, where parents learned about the study, consented to have their sons participate in the study, and engaged in the focus group discussion. The subsequent two focus groups were scheduled specifically for the sons. After the focus groups were completed, the data were analyzed to identify barriers, facilitators, and components related to PA. Each focus group meeting was audio-taped and transcribed using Otter's automated transcription software (Otter Pro, Los Altos, CA). Two researchers simultaneously listened to the audio recordings while reviewing the transcripts to ensure accuracy and consistency. In cases of discrepancies, a third researcher reviewed the edits and the original transcripts to confirm data accuracy. Following the transcription process, the data were organized into categories: PA barriers, PA facilitators, and PA components. The study identified the main themes within each category. For barriers, guardians and sons noted environmental and personal determinants that hindered PA. As facilitators, guardians highlighted psychosocial factors and the importance of fun, while sons emphasized personal determinants, family support, and environmental influences. Regarding components for a PA intervention, guardians expressed the desire for organized sports and mentorship opportunities for their sons, while the sons requested afterschool programs that would allow for independence with adult supervision and the incorporation of homework tutoring as a reward for completing their assignments. Future studies should look into further exploring PA barriers and facilitators in a larger sample size with the ultimate aim of developing a PA intervention to help improve PA levels in African American and Hispanic pre-adolescent boys.
Type
Thesis (Open Access)
Date
2024-09