| Summary |
Perceived benefits of physical activity for college students include improved health, psychological well-being, and body image. These perceived benefits may promote continuation of regular physical activity. Despite these potential benefits, many people do not participate in adequate levels of physical activity for health. Barriers to physical activity, such as lack of social support, lack of time, and low self-efficacy, may deter individuals from participation in physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of perceived physical activity benefits and barriers with objectively measured and self-reported physical activity. Eighty-four college-aged males and females (mean age = 20.3 ± 1.7 years) wore an Actigraph accelerometer for seven consecutive days. Levels of moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) intensity physical activity were determined from accelerometer data using two different cut-points. Immediately following collection of accelerometer data, participants completed the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS), the Physical Activity Benefits and Barriers Scale (PABBS), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and various body composition assessments. Internal consistency reliability was estimated with Cronbach's alpha for the EBBS Benefits (R = .93) and Barriers (R = .78) subscales, as well as the PABBS subscales (range from .71 to .84). Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and the subscales of the EBBS and PABBS for the total sample, and separately for males and females. Results indicated that objectively measured MVPA, moderate, and vigorous physical activity correlated lowly (r < .42) with subscales of the EBBS and PABBS, with few significant relationships. The Low Motivation subscale of the PABBS was the only scale significantly (p < .05) correlated with MVPA, moderate, and vigorous physical activity in the total sample (-.37, -.31, and -.31, respectively) and in females (-.40, -.28, and -.42, respectively). The Time Constraints subscale of the PABBS was significantly correlated with MVPA (r = -.26) and moderate physical activity (r = -.22) in the total sample. Independent samples /-tests were used to examine differences in benefits and barriers between participants who met (n= 12) and did not meet (n = 71) physical activity recommendations. Participants who did not meet physical activity recommendations as determined by objectively measured physical activity reported significantly (p < .05) higher mean scores on the barriers subscales for the PABBS (Low Motivation and Time Constraints) and the EBBS than participants who met recommendations. Physical activity groups determined by accelerometry did not significantly differ on measures of benefits of physical activity. However, participants who met physical activity recommendations based on self-reported physical activity reported significantly (p < .05) higher mean benefits scores than participants who did not meet recommendations. In conclusion, barriers to physical activity may be more important to physical activity participation in college-age participants than perceived benefits of physical activity and low motivation may have a greater impact on physical activity participation than other barriers to physical activity. |
