Predrag Ilić1, Borko Katanic1, Miljan Hadzovic1, Rada Rakočević2, Dusko Bjelica3, Amel Mekic4
1University of Nis, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Nis, Serbia
2The Independent University, Pedagogical Faculty, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3University of Montenegro, Faculty for Sports and Physical Education, Niksic, Montenegro
4University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Barriers to Physical Activity (PA) in the Working Population: A Review
Sport Mont 2024, 22(1), 129-136 | DOI: 10.26773/smj.240218
Abstract
Regular physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in promoting overall health and preventing non-communicable diseases, with exercise both during and outside working hours reducing accumulated fatigue and stress caused by various job tasks. However, despite this, many people do not engage in sufficient levels of PA for various reasons. In line with this, this comprehensive research aimed to identify the barriers to physical exercise among the working population (WP). A search of literature was conducted using the following databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Mendeley, covering the period from 2002 to 2022. To potentially include in the study, all titles and abstracts were reviewed. A search of the databases based on keywords yielded 420 studies, then, through analysis and in accordance with the study’s objectives, 50 studies were included for analysis. Through a detailed analysis of selected studies, various barriers to PA in the WP have been identified. All barriers can be divided into three main groups: i) Work schedule and workplace as barriers; ii) Marital and extramarital relationships, parenthood, family, and household obligations as barriers; iii) Time, behavioral, socio-economic, demographic, and ecological factors as barriers. The detected barriers suggest that interventions to overcome them should not be directed toward a single solution, given their diversity. In the context of the contemporary lifestyle where economic activities almost dominantly prevail, maintaining the health and adequate work level of employees is of utmost importance, further emphasizing the significance of PA and the identification of barriers of various kinds. Therefore, this research is of great value, as by determining the state and identifying different barriers to PA, it can serve as an initial step in devising various measures and solutions to eliminate these barriers and enable the WP to engage in physical activities for the improvement of their health and work potential.
Keywords
barriers to physical exercise, perceived barriers and physical activity, employees, workplace, leisure-time physical activity
View full article
(PDF – 125KB)
References
Abbasi, I. N. (2014). Socio-cultural barriers to attaining recommended levels of physical activity among females: A review of literature. Quest, 66(4), 448-467.
Al-Mohannadi, A. S., Albuflasa, A. M., Sayegh, S., Salman, A., & Farooq, A. (2020). A cross-sectional study exploring motivators and barriers to physical activity participation among hospital workers. Global Journal of Health Science, 12, 76-85.
Alonso-Blanco, C., Palacios-Cena, D., Hernández-Barrera, V., Carrasco-Garrido, P., Jiménez-García, R., & Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C. (2012). Trends in leisure time and work-related physical activity in the Spanish working population, 1987-2006. Gaceta Sanitaria, 26, 223-230.
Angrave, D., Charlwood, A., & Wooden, M. (2015). Long working hours and physical activity. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 69(8), 738-744.
Arango, E. F., Patiño, F. A., Quintero, M. A., & Arenas, M. M. (2011). Levels of physical activity, barriers, and stage of change in an urban population from a municipality in Colombia. Colombia Médica, 42(3), 352-361.
Azevedo, M. R., Araújo, C. L. P., Reichert, F. F., Siqueira, F. V., da Silva, M. C., & Hallal, P. C. (2007). Gender differences in leisure-time physical activity. International Journal of Public Health, 52(1), 8-15.
Bardus, M., Blake, H., Lloyd, S., & Suzanne Suggs, L. (2014). Reasons for participating and not participating in a e-health workplace physical activity intervention: A qualitative analysis. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 7(4), 229-246.
Bellows-Riecken, K. H., & Rhodes, R. E. (2008). A birth of inactivity? A review of physical activity and parenthood. Preventive Medicine, 46(2), 99-110.
Bernaards, C. M., Jans, M. P., Van den Heuvel, S. G., Hendriksen, I. J., Houtman, I. L., & Bongers, P. M. (2006). Can strenuous leisure time physical activity prevent psychological complaints in a working population?. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 63(1), 10-16.
Bláfoss, R., Micheletti, J. K., Sundstrup, E., Jakobsen, M. D., Bay, H., & Andersen, L. L. (2019). Is fatigue after work a barrier for leisure-time physical activity? Cross-sectional study among 10,000 adults from the general working population. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 47(3), 383-391.
Borodulin, K., Sipilä, N., Rahkonen, O., Leino-Arjas, P., Kestilä, L., Jousilahti, P., & Prättälä, R. (2016). Socio-demographic and behavioral variation in barriers to leisure-time physical activity. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 44(1), 62-69.
Bowles, H. R., Morrow Jr, J. R., Leonard, B. L., Hawkins, M., & Couzelis, P. M. (2002). The association between physical activity behavior and commonly reported barriers in a worksite population. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 73(4), 464-470.
Bredahl, T. V. G., Christensen, R. S., Justesen, J. B., & Christensen, J. R. (2019). Adherence to physical activity in a workplace setting–A qualitative interview study. Cogent Medicine, 6(1), 1581446.
Bredahl, T. V. G., Særvoll, C. A., Kirkelund, L., Sjøgaard, G., & Andersen, L. L. (2015). When intervention meets organisation, a qualitative study of motivation and barriers to physical exercise at the workplace. The Scientific World Journal, 2015, ID 518561.
Brinthaupt, T. M., Kang, M., & Anshel, M. H. (2010). A delivery model for overcoming psycho-behavioral barriers to exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(4), 259-266.
Brown, S. A. (2005). Measuring perceived benefits and perceived barriers for physical activity. American Journal of Health Behavior, 29(2), 107-116.
Caffaro, F., Lundqvist, P., Micheletti Cremasco, M., Nilsson, K., Pinzke, S., Cavallo, E. (2018). Being a farmer at old age: an ergonomic analysis of work-related risks in a group of Swedish farmers aged 65 and over. Journal of Agromedicine, 23, 78–91.
Caperchoine, C., Mummery, W. K., & Joyner, K. (2009). Addressing the challenges, barriers, and enablers to physical activity participation in priority women’s groups. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 6(5), 589-596.
Cerdá, B., Pérez, M., Pérez-Santiago, J. D., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., González-Soltero, R., & Larrosa, M. (2016). Gut microbiota modification: another piece in the puzzle of the benefits of physical exercise in health?. Frontiers in Physiology, 7, 51.
Cerin, E., Leslie, E., Sugiyama, T., & Owen, N. (2010). Perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity in adults: an ecological perspective. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 7(4), 451-459.
Cook, M. A., & Gazmararian, J. (2018). The association between long work hours and leisure-time physical activity and obesity. Preventive Medicine Reports, 10, 271-277.
da Silva Garcez, A., Canuto, R., Paniz, V. M. V., Olinto, B. A., Macagnan, J., Henn, R. L., ... & Olinto, M. T. A. (2015). Association between work shift and the practice of physical activity among workers of a poultry processing plant in Southern Brazil. Nutricion Hospitalaria, 31(5), 2174-2181.
Das, B. M., Rinaldi-Miles, A. I., & Evans, E. M. (2013). Exploring faculty and staff PA barriers at a large university. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 11(2), 61-72.
de Vries, J. D., Claessens, B. J., van Hooff, M. L., Geurts, S. A., van den Bossche, S. N., & Kompier, M. A. (2016). Disentangling longitudinal relations between physical activity, work-related fatigue, and task demands. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 89(1), 89-101.
de Vries, J. D., van Hooff, M. L., Geurts, S. A., & Kompier, M. A. (2017). Exercise to reduce work-related fatigue among employees: a randomized controlled trial. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 337-349.
Dixon, M. A. (2009). From their perspective: A qualitative examination of physical activity and sport programming for working mothers. Sport Management Review, 12(1), 34-48.
Dombrowski, J. J. (2011). Barriers to physical activity among working mothers. American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), 59(4), 161-167.
Drygas, W., Skiba, A., Bielecki, W., & Puska, P. (2001). Physical activity estimation among the inhabitants of six European countries Project “Bridging East-West Health Gap”. Med Sport, 5(Suppl 2), 119-125.
Edmunds, S., Hurst, L., & Harvey, K. (2013). Physical activity barriers in the workplace: An exploration of factors contributing to non-participation in a UK workplace physical activity intervention. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 6(3), 227-240.
Fletcher, G. M., Behrens, T. K., & Domina, L. (2008). Barriers and enabling factors for work-site physical activity programs: a qualitative examination. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5(3), 418-429.
Fransson, E. I., Heikkilä, K., Nyberg, S. T., Zins, M., Westerlund, H., Westerholm, P., ... & Kivimäki, M. (2012). Job strain as a risk factor for leisure-time physical inactivity: an individual-participant meta-analysis of up to 170,000 men and women: the IPD-Work Consortium. American journal of Epidemiology, 176(12), 1078-1089.
Gidlow, C., Johnston, L. H., Crone, D., Ellis, N., & James, D. (2006). A systematic review of the relationship between socio-economic position and physical activity. Health Education Journal, 65(4), 338-367.
Godin, G., Bélanger‐Gravel, A., & Nolin, B. (2008). Mechanism by which BMI influences leisure‐time physical activity behavior. Obesity, 16(6), 1314-1317.
Haynes, S. N., & O'Brien, W. H. (2000). Principles and practice of behavioral assessment. Springer Science & Business Media.
Heesch, K. C., & Mâsse, L. C. (2004). Lack of time for physical activity: perception or reality for African American and Hispanic women?. Women & Health, 39(3), 45-62.
Holtermann, A., Hansen, J. V., Burr, H., Søgaard, K., & Sjøgaard, G. (2012). The health paradox of occupational and leisure-time physical activity. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(4), 291-295.
Hovbrandt, C., Håkansson, C., Karlsson, G., Albin, M., Nilsson, K., (2017). Prerequisites and driving forces behind an extended working life among older workers. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2017.1409800.
Hull, E. E., Rofey, D. L., Robertson, R. J., Nagle, E. F., Otto, A. D., & Aaron, D. J. (2010). Influence of marriage and parenthood on physical activity: a 2-year prospective analysis. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7(5), 577-583.
Hunter, J. R., Gordon, B. A., Bird, S. R., & Benson, A. C. (2018). Perceived barriers and facilitators to workplace exercise participation. International Journal of Workplace Health Management.
Joseph, R. P., Ainsworth, B. E., Keller, C., & Dodgson, J. E. (2015). Barriers to physical activity among African American women: an integrative review of the literature. Women & Health, 55(6), 679-699.
Kaleta, D., & Jegier, A. (2005). Occupational energy expenditure and leisure-time physical activity. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 18(4), 351-6.
Kaleta, D., & Jegier, A. (2007). Predictors of inactivity in the working-age population. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 20(2), 175.
Kaleta, D., Makowiec-Dabrowska, T., & Jegier, A. (2006). Lifestyle index and work ability. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 19(3), 170.
Keohane, D. M., Mulligan, N. A., & Daly, B. (2018). Physical activity levels and perceived barriers to exercise participation in Irish General Practitioners and General Practice trainees. https://www.lenus.ie/bitstream/handle/10147/622840/art7.html?sequence=1
Kirk, M. A., & Rhodes, R. E. (2011). Occupation correlates of adults' participation in leisure-time physical activity: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 40(4), 476-485.
Kouvonen, A., Kivimäki, M., Elovainio, M., Virtanen, M., Linna, A., & Vahtera, J. (2005). Job strain and leisure-time physical activity in female and male public sector employees. Preventive Medicine, 41(2), 532-539.
Lawton, J., Ahmad, N., Hanna, L., Douglas, M., & Hallowell, N. (2006). ‘I can't do any serious exercise’: barriers to physical activity amongst people of Pakistani and Indian origin with Type 2 diabetes. Health Education Research, 21(1), 43-54.
Leicht, A. S., Sealey, R. M., & Devine, S. (2013). Relationship between employment category and gender on quality of life, physical activity and their barriers and motivators, for full-time university staff. International Journal of Workplace Health Management.
Leininger, L. J., Adams, K. J., & DeBeliso, M. (2015). Differences in health promotion program participation, barriers and physical activity among faculty, staff and administration at a university worksite. International Journal of Workplace Health Management.
Mailey, E. L., Huberty, J., Dinkel, D., & McAuley, E. (2014). Physical activity barriers and facilitators among working mothers and fathers. BMC public Health, 14(1), 1-9.
Mariam, A. A., & Mazin, H. (2019). Working experience and perceived physical activity and exercise barriers. Sport Mont, 17(2), 47-52.
Mathews, E., Lakshmi, J. K., Ravindran, T. S., Pratt, M., & Thankappan, K. R. (2016). Perceptions of barriers and facilitators in physical activity participation among women in Thiruvananthapuram City, India. Global Health Promotion, 23(4), 27-36.
Mayne, R. S., Hart, N. D., Tully, M. A., Wilson, J. J., & Heron, N. (2022). GPs’ perspectives regarding their sedentary behaviour and physical activity: a qualitative interview study. BJGP Open.
Mujika, I., & Padilla, S. (2000a). Detraining: Loss of training-induced physiological and performance adaptations. Part I: short term insufficient training stimulus. Sports Medicine, 30(2), 7987.
Mujika, I., & Padilla, S. (2000b). Detraining: Loss of training-induced physiological and performance adaptations. Part II: Long term insufficient training stimulus. Sports Medicine, 30(3), 145154.
Neil-Sztramko, S. E., Gotay, C. C., Demers, P. A., Muñoz, C., & Campbell, K. L. (2017). Development of a physical activity intervention for women shift workers. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 4(4), 406-418.
Nilsson, K. (2020). A sustainable working life for all ages–The swAge-model. Applied Ergonomics, 86, 103082.
Osuji, T., Lovegreen, S., Elliott, M., & Brownson, R. C. (2006). Barriers to physical activity among women in the rural midwest. Women & Health, 44(1), 41-55.
Paudel, S., Owen, A. J., & Smith, B. J. (2021). Socio-ecological influences of leisure-time physical activity among Nepalese adults: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1-11.
Pensions at a Glance. (2017). OECD and G20 Indicators. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/pension_glance-2017-en.
Popham, F., & Mitchell, R. (2006). Leisure time exercise and personal circumstances in the working age population: longitudinal analysis of the British household panel survey. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 60(3), 270-274.
Puciato, D., Rozpara, M., Mynarski, W., Oleśniewicz, P., Markiewicz-Patkowska, J., & Dębska, M. (2018). Physical activity of working-age people in view of their income status. BioMed Research International, 2018.
Puetz, T. W. (2006). Physical activity and feelings of energy and fatigue. Sports medicine, 36(9), 767-780.
Roessler, K. K., & Bredahl, T. G. (2006). Physical activity as part of health promotion in a work place. International Journal of Eastern Sports and Physical Education, 4(1), 14.
Ryde, G. C., Atkinson, P., Stead, M., Gorely, T., & Evans, J. M. (2020). Physical activity in paid work time for desk-based employees: a qualitative study of employers’ and employees’ perspectives. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-10.
Schneider, S., & Becker, S. (2005). Prevalence of physical activity among the working population and correlation with work-related factors: results from the first German National Health Survey. Journal of Occupational Health, 47(5), 414-423.
Schwetschenau, H. M., O'Brien, W. H., Cunningham, C. J., & Jex, S. M. (2008). Barriers to physical activity in an on-site corporate fitness center. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 13(4), 371.
Sharma, S., & Suhail, A. (2022). Perception of barriers in physical activity participation among middle-aged adults: a qualitative study. Working with Older People.
Stankevitz, K., Dement, J., Schoenfisch, A., Joyner, J., Clancy, S. M., Stroo, M., & Østbye, T. (2017). Perceived barriers to healthy eating and physical activity among participants in a workplace obesity intervention. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(8), 746-751.
Takao, S., Kawakami, N., & Ohtsu, T. (2003). Occupational class and physical activity among Japanese employees. Social Science & Medicine, 57(12), 2281-2289.
Tavares, L. S., & Plotnikoff, R. C. (2008). Not enough time? Individual and environmental implications for workplace physical activity programming among women with and without young children. Health Care for Women International, 29(3), 244-281.
Thomas, S., Halbert, J., Mackintosh, S., Quinn, S., & Crotty, M. (2012). Sociodemographic factors associated with self-reported exercise and physical activity behaviors and attitudes of South Australians: results of a population-based survey. Journal of Aging and Health, 24(2), 287-306.
Torquati, L., Kolbe-Alexander, T., Pavey, T., Persson, C., & Leveritt, M. (2016). Diet and physical activity behaviour in nurses: a qualitative study. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 54(6), 268-279.
Twisk, J. W., Snel, J., Kemper, H. C., & van Mechelen, W. (1999). Changes in daily hassles and life events and the relationship with coronary heart disease risk factors: a 2-year longitudinal study in 27–29 year old males and females. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 46(3), 229-240.
Verdonk, P., Seesing, H., & de Rijk, A. (2010). Doing masculinity, not doing health? A qualitative study among Dutch male employees about health beliefs and workplace physical activity. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 712.
Ward, M., McGarrigle, L., Kenny, R. A., Moreton, B., & Donnelly, M. (2020). Physical activity in older adults: Barriers and motivations. Irish Journal of Medical Science, 189(4), 1263-1271.
Weinhold, K. R., Miller, C. K., Marrero, D. G., Nagaraja, H. N., & Focht, B. C. (2010). Understanding barriers to physical activity among adults with type 1 diabetes with different activity levels. The Diabetes Educator, 36(2), 302-309.
World Health Organization. (2010). Global recommendations on physical activity for health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_recommendations/en/
Zhang, H., Li, Y., & Becerik-Gerber, B. (2016). Building performance analysis: A data-driven approach. Automation in Construction, 64, 49-63.