The Meaning of Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study on the Perspective of South American Immigrant Parents

Romain Marconnot, Antonio Luis Marín-Rojas, Carmen Jiménez-Antona, Jorge Pérez-Corrales, Javier Güeita-Rodríguez and Domingo Palacios-Ceña
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Romain Marconnot: Área de Educación Física del Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Antonio Luis Marín-Rojas: Área de Educación Física del Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Carmen Jiménez-Antona: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Jorge Pérez-Corrales: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Javier Güeita-Rodríguez: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Domingo Palacios-Ceña: Área de Educación Física del Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avenida Atenas s/n, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: Physical activity facilitates the acquisition of healthy habits from childhood to adulthood. There are differences in the practice of physical activity between immigrant children and native Spanish children. The aim was to describe physical activity in children, from the perspective of South American immigrant parents. A qualitative case study was conducted. Parents were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected from 12 participants by means of unstructured interviews together with researcher notes. A thematic analysis was applied. The following topics were identified: (a) physical activity and health, (b) socialization, (c) the need for movement, (d) gender, (e) barriers, (f) educational burden, (g) community living, and (h) reason for immigrating. Parents described how physical activity is fundamental and has benefits for health, and for the relationship between children. They perceived that physical activity should not be limited by gender. The time dedicated to other school activities, the norms related to community living, and financial limitations were especially relevant as barriers for the performance of physical activity. These results can be used to revise the curriculum in schools, promote equal opportunities for physical activity and support family participation.

Keywords: immigrants; physical education and training; exercise; youth; parents; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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