Experiences, facilitators and barriers to perform physical activity in physically inactive young women: A qualitative study

Sedentary lifestyle is a major global health concern, with higher prevalence among women. This highlights the importance of examining physical inactivity from a gender perspective. This qualitative study aimed to explore, the experiences, perceived barriers, and facilitators related to physical activity (PA) among physically inactive young women. A total of 144 participants (21.19 ± 2.05 years) were included. Three main themes and 10 subthemes emerged: (1) facilitators to perform PA, (2) barriers to PA, and (3) dissatisfaction with PA levels alongside a willingness to increase PA. The findings indicated that barriers and facilitators were multidimensional, shaped by health factors, psychological aspects, body image, and social environments. Although dissatisfaction with current PA levels was observed, participants also indicated the willingness to change. This study provides a nuanced, gender-sensitive understanding of the complex interplay of factors influencing physical inactivity in young women.