Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Quantitative data show that physical activity (PA) reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with differential impacts across demographic groups. Qualitative research is limited; thus, this study aimed to understand barriers and facilitators to PA during the pandemic, focusing on groups more likely to have been affected by restrictions, and to map these onto the capability, opportunity, motivation model of behaviour (COM-B). One-to-one interviews were conducted with younger (aged 18–24) and older adults (aged 70+), those with long-term physical or mental health conditions, and parents of young children. Themes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis and were mapped onto COM-B domains. A total of 116 participants contributed (aged 18–93, 61% female, 71% White British). Key themes were the importance of the outdoor environment, impact of COVID-19 restrictions, fear of contracting COVID-19, and level of engagement with home exercise. Caring responsibilities and conflicting priorities were a barrier. PA as a method of socialising, establishing new routines, and the importance of PA for protecting mental health were motivators. Most themes mapped onto the physical opportunity (environmental factors) and reflective motivation (evaluations/plans) COM-B domains. Future interventions should target these domains during pandemics (e.g., adapting PA guidance depending on location and giving education on the health benefits of PA).

Impacts of Transitioning to an Online Curriculum at a Graduate School in South Korea Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The literature suggests Academic stakeholders are susceptible to impacts involving health, sociology, and achievement [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. The generalization of Health as being the overall physical, mental, and emotional condition with regards to academic activities relevant to the individual.…”

“…There is a fair amount of literature on the integration and utilization of an online format in school curricula. Several studies describe a school’s sudden implementation of an online curriculum in response to crises and natural disasters, such as hurricanes [ 4 ], earthquakes [ 5 , 6 , 7 ], the 2002 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS outbreak [ 8 , 9 ], the 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS outbreak [ 10 ], and the current COVID-19 pandemic [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Insights from these studies say a strong telecommunications and information technology infrastructure is needed to properly benefit from online learning technologies as well as a strong impact on students’ mental health from COVID-19 protocols.…”

Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Qualitative Analysis of Free-Text Survey Data

“…These were identified as either barriers or facilitators and mapped onto the COM-B model. Opportunity (physical) and motivation (reflective) were found to be factors influencing physical activity, no themes mapped to capability [28]. However, these studies remain relatively small in size [26], or focus on specific sub-populations [28].…”

“…Opportunity (physical) and motivation (reflective) were found to be factors influencing physical activity, no themes mapped to capability [28]. However, these studies remain relatively small in size [26], or focus on specific sub-populations [28]. We lack research providing broader insight into general public attitudes towards physical activity during COVID-19.…”

“…However, due to the small sample size, this study did not allow for comparison across demographic groups. A UK qualitative study looked at barriers and facilitators to physical activity during COVID-19 and mapped to the COM-B model [28]. One study focused on those people that had been particularly affected by restrictions (younger adults aged 18-24, older adults aged 70+, parents with small children and those with physical or mental health conditions) and conducted In-depth interviews with 116 adults within these demographics.…”