Barriers and facilitators to physical activity among Black women: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

Abstract

American Black women are less physically active than other American women. While several qualitative studies have investigated this issue, there has been no effort to synthesize this literature. Purpose: This study aimed to utilize qualitative thematic synthesis to employ an intersectionality framework in synthesizing existing published qualitative studies on barriers to and facilitators of physical activity for Black women and reflect constructs related to (a) all American women, (b) Black Americans, and (c) Black women. This qualitative thematic synthesis included 18 studies published from 2011 to the present. Studies were coded for quality and then reviewed with their themes identified and inductively integrated across the studies. The resulting themes were then deductively placed within a broader structure of an intersectionality framework. Reflecting this framework, three categories were identified: (1) general experience of physical activity for women, regardless of race, with themes of (a) motivation, (b) structured support, (c) overall health, (d) environment; (2) general experiences of physical activity for Black Americans, with a sub-theme of (a) low access; and (3) specific, intersectional experiences of physical activity for Black women, with sub-themes of (a) black hair, and (b) body ideal. Our synthesis of the existing qualitative research revealed that Black women experience PA related to being a woman, to being Black, and to the intersectional nature of being a Black woman. Interventions might target these intersectional themes to tailor interventions to support PA in Black women.