Table 8 Perceived barriers to physical activity among Syrian refugees
Barrier | Total No (%) n = 173 | Physically Active No (%) n = 159 | Physically Inactive No (%) n = 14 | p-value a | Meeting WHO recs No (%) n = 96 | Not meeting WHO recs No (%) n = 77 | p-value a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time limitations | 75 (43.4) | 69 (60.5) | 6 (42.9) | 0.97 | 46 (47.9) | 29 (37.7) | 0.18 |
Lack of accessible and suitable sports places | 39 (22.5) | 36 (31.6) | 3 (21.4) | 0.92 | 16 (16.7) | 23 (29.9) | 0.04 |
Lack of safe sports places | 36 (20.8) | 32 (28.1) | 4 (28.6) | 0.46 | 19 (19.8) | 17 (22.1) | 0.71 |
Lack of support and encouragement from others | 42 (24.3) | 41 (36.0) | 1 (7.1) | 0.12 | 25 (26.0) | 17 (22.1) | 0.55 |
Lack of friends to encourage me | 31 (17.9) | 30 (26.3) | 1 (7.1) | 0.27 | 20 (20.8) | 11 (14.3) | 0.26 |
Have other important priorities | 74 (42.8) | 71 (62.3) | 3 (21.4) | 0.09 | 43 (44.8) | 31 (40.3) | 0.55 |
Lack of sports programs that suit my physical fitness | 13 (7.5) | 13 (11.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0.27 | 9 (9.4) | 4 (5.2) | 0.30 |
Not interested in sports | 19 (11.0) | 16 (14.0) | 3 (21.4) | 0.19 | 11 (11.5) | 8 (10.4) | 0.82 |
Lack of motivation | 12 (6.9) | 11 (9.6) | 1 (7.1) | 0.98 | 8 (8.3) | 4 (5.2) | 0.42 |
High cost | 100 (57.8) | 95 (83.3) | 5 (35.7) | 0.08 | 62 (64.6) | 38 (49.4) | 0.04 |
Lack of sports skills | 9 (5.2) | 9 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.36 | 4 (4.2) | 5 (6.5) | 0.49 |
Fear of failure in sports competition | 14 (8.1) | 13 (11.4) | 1 (7.1) | 0.89 | 4 (4.2) | 10 (13.0) | 0.04 |
Fear of injury | 25 (14.5) | 24 (21.1) | 1 (7.1) | 0.42 | 13 (13.5) | 12 (15.6) | 0.70 |
Fear of deterioration of physical illness | 19 (11.0) | 17 (14.9) | 2 (14.3) | 0.68 | 9 (9.4) | 10 (13.0) | 0.45 |
Nobody to care for my family | 63 (36.4) | 60 (52.6) | 3 (21.4) | 0.22 | 42 (43.8) | 21 (27.3) | 0.03 |
Feeling tired on physical activity | 33 (19.1) | 32 (28.1) | 1 (7.1) | 0.24 | 17 (17.7) | 16 (20.8) | 0.61 |
Ignorance about benefits of sports | 4 (2.3) | 4 (3.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0.55 | 4 (4.2) | 0 (0.0) | 0.07 |
Prefer not to attend sports place | 5 (2.9) | 5 (4.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0.50 | 3 (3.1) | 2 (2.6) | 0.84 |
Lack of or low physical power | 24 (13.9) | 22 (19.3) | 2 (14.3) | 0.96 | 11 (11.5) | 13 (16.9) | 0.31 |
Feeling unable to practice sports adequately | 18 (10.4) | 17 (14.9) | 1 (7.1) | 0.68 | 7 (7.3) | 11 (14.3) | 0.13 |
Objection of others | 5 (2.9) | 5 (4.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0.50 | 3 (3.1) | 2 (2.6) | 0.84 |
Body cannot tolerate physical activity | 30 (17.3) | 28 (24.6) | 2 (14.3) | 0.75 | 16 (16.7) | 14 (18.2) | 0.79 |
Unsuitable (hot or cold) weather | 15 (8.7) | 14 (12.3) | 1 (7.1) | 0.83 | 6 (6.3) | 9 (11.7) | 0.21 |
Previous bad experience with physical sport activity | 9 (5.2) | 9 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0.36 | 5 (5.2) | 4 (5.2) | 1.00 |
No barriers | 11 (6.4) | 11 (9.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0.31 | 8 (8.3) | 3 (3.9) | 0.24 |
Median (IQR) no. of barriers | 3 (1, 5) | 2.5 (1,3) | 3 (1, 5) | 3 (1, 5) |