Environmental Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity among University Students with Physical Disability—A Qualitative Study in Spain

Javier Monforte, Joan Úbeda-Colomer, Miquel Pans, Víctor Pérez-Samaniego and José Devís-Devís
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Javier Monforte: Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University, 42 Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HN, UK
Joan Úbeda-Colomer: Departament d’Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
Miquel Pans: Departament d’Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
Víctor Pérez-Samaniego: Departament d’Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain
José Devís-Devís: Departament d’Educació Física i Esportiva, Universitat de València, C/Gascó Oliag, 3, 46010 València, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: This paper qualitatively examines environmental factors operating as barriers and/or facilitators to participation in physical activity (PA) of people with physical disabilities. Interview data were collected from 27 Spanish university students through the innovative method of two-on-one interviews. Thereafter, data were subject to a flexible thematic analysis. Three themes were constructed: associations; PA practice spaces; and nonhumans. Concepts from different theories were used to generate meaningful interpretations around each theme. Drawing on our results, we offer several reflections and directions. Two key messages can be highlighted. First, environmental barriers and facilitators are context dependent and thus do not precede the circumstances in which they emerge. Second, Spanish universities should work harder to become relevant PA promoting environments for students with physical disability. The knowledge generated in this study is expected to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of programs promoting PA among Spanish university students with physical disability.

Keywords: sport; exercise; qualitative research; ICF framework; narrative environments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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