Barriers to Physical Activity Participation Among University Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sami Elmahgoub (), Hassan Mohamed, Farah Abu Khadra, Aseel Aburub, Mohamed I. Mabrouk, Adel Eltaguri and Ákos Levente Tóth
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Sami Elmahgoub: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan
Hassan Mohamed: Department of Sport Training, Faulty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tripoli, Tripoli 13932, Libya
Farah Abu Khadra: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Aseel Aburub: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan
Mohamed I. Mabrouk: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan
Adel Eltaguri: Community Medicine Department, Faulty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli 13932, Libya
Ákos Levente Tóth: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Regular physical activity (PA) is crucial for health, yet many individuals face barriers to engage in an active lifestyle. This study aimed to identify and analyze the barriers preventing university staff from participating in PA. A cross-sectional quantitative approach was utilized, distributing surveys to a diverse sample of 238 university staff aged 19 to 77 years, with an average age of 40. The survey was designed to identify the barriers that individuals face in adhering to physical PA and collected data on various internal and external factors influencing PA participation. Younger participants reported significantly higher scores for lack of energy and motivation compared to older age groups. Additionally, female participants experienced greater internal and external barriers than their male counterparts. Furthermore, university employees experienced significantly higher internal barriers, namely a lack of energy and lack of motivation. The primary barrier to PA participation among university staff was a lack of time. This study highlights the need for supportive environments that address these obstacles to promote PA participation. The findings offer valuable insights for university administrations and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions and supportive policies to enhance the health and activity levels of university staff.

Keywords: physical activity; participation; university staff; barriers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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