Barriers to physical activity among Brazilian elderly women from different socioeconomic status: a focus-group study

• Published in: Journal of physical activity & health Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 126
• Main Authors: Cassou, Ana Carina Naldino, Fermino, Rogerio, Rodriguez Añez, Ciro Romélio, Santos, Mariana Silva, Domingues, Marlos R, Reis, Rodrigo S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Aged; Brazil; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Environment Design; Exercise - psychology; Female; Focus Groups; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Male; Physical Fitness - psychology; Qualitative Research; Social Class; Social Environment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Women's Health; Brazil
• ISSN: 1543-5474
• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.8.1.126

The aim of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity among elderly Brazilian women of different socioeconomic status (SES). A focus-group approach was employed. Subjects were aged, on average, 69.9 years (±6.9; n = 25). SES was measured based on a structured interview and women were grouped according to SES classification. Content analysis was used to categorize mentions of barriers to physical activities followed by descriptive analysis of absolute and relative frequencies of similar reports. Most common barriers among high-SES elderly women were those within "psychological, cognitive, and emotional" dimensions (33.8%) and "environmental" (29.2%). Among women from lower SES, barriers were inversely ranked, the highest prevalence was verified for environmental (33.8%) and "psychological, cognitive, and emotional" dimensions (25%). The results highlight that barriers perception varies according to women's SES, indicating that physical activity promotion strategies must address such differences.