Gender differences in barriers to sports participation on the transition from adolescence to young adulthood in a mediterranean región

Objective: This study explored gender differences in perceived barriers to physical activity across adolescence and their impact on sport participation. Methods: A 3-year longitudinal survey followed Spanish secondary school students (n = 180) into their first year of university (2012-2014). Data we...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Arumí i Prat, Ignasi, Cirera-Viñolas, Eva, McKenna, Jim, Puig Ribera, Anna
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:UVic-UCC
Repositorio:RiUVic. Repositori institucional de la UVic-UCC
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:riuvic______::ff0036b4e1dfb47f9aabb6b90bd3d95e
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10854/180895
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103226
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Diferències entre sexes
Adolescents
Joves adults
Esports
Exercici
Mediterrània, Regió
613
Descripción
Sumario:Objective: This study explored gender differences in perceived barriers to physical activity across adolescence and their impact on sport participation. Methods: A 3-year longitudinal survey followed Spanish secondary school students (n = 180) into their first year of university (2012-2014). Data were collected on sociodemographic variables, perceived barriers to physical activity, and sport participation. Gender differences and effect sizes were assessed using Odds Ratios (ORs) and Cohen's D. Results: In high school, sport participation was 45 % for girls and 68 % for boys, decreasing to 12 % and 10 % respectively at university. Barriers to physical activity were reported by 59 % of students in high school and 63 % at university, more frequently by girls (OR = 3.66 in high school; OR = 3.15 at university). Among those who never perceived barriers, sport participation was close to 80 %. When barriers emerged only at university, participation dropped to 29 %. Sport participation was consistently lower in girls across all scenarios. The most common barriers were lack of time and too much homework, while cost-related barriers became more prominent at university. Conclusions: Understanding how physical activity barriers change by gender during the transition to university is key to designing effective interventions. For girls, early prevention is essential. University-emerging barriers strongly reduce sport involvement regardless of gender.