Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity in Children of a South Asian Ethnicity

Lee Smith, Guillermo Felipe López Sánchez, Arturo Díaz Suárez, Brendon Stubbs, Mathew Dowling, Adrian Scruton, Justin Roberts, James Johnstone and Shahina Pardhan
Additional contact information
Lee Smith: Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Guillermo Felipe López Sánchez: Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Arturo Díaz Suárez: Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Brendon Stubbs: Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Mathew Dowling: Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Adrian Scruton: Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Justin Roberts: Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
James Johnstone: Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Shahina Pardhan: Vision and Eye Research Unit, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Children of South Asian ethnicity residing in England have low levels of physical activity. Limited literature exists on correlates, barriers, and facilitators to activity in South Asian children. The aim of this study was to fill this gap in the literature. Interviews were conducted with 10 parents of South Asian ethnicity residing in the UK. Interviews covered a description of the family setup, participants’ opinions of physical activity including barriers and facilitators and their children’s participation, as well as approaches to general parenting, and how children spend their free time. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Key themes identified included (i) restraints on parents’ and children’s time to be physically active; (ii) the role of the family in children’s physical activity participation; (iii) situational barriers to physical activity; (iv) physical activity not a priority; (v) opportunities to be active; and (vi) perception of activity level and health. A number of key barriers to South Asian children’s participation in physical activity were identified, including (i) restraints on parents and children’s time; (ii) parents providing limited support for physical activity; and (iii) physical activity having a low priority. A number of facilitators were also identified (i) play; (ii) school-time; and (iii) extra-curricular clubs. In this sample of South Asian parents residing in the UK several socio-cultural barriers and facilitators of their children’s physical activity have been identified. The study provides preliminary data for a larger study to ascertain if such barriers and facilitators are representative of the wider South Asian community, so that recommendations for intervention and policies can be made.

Keywords: physical activity; health; schoolchildren (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:761-:d:135593

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