BENEFITS AND BARRIERS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG SAUDI FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Regular physical activity is known to have vital benefits for individuals. Consequently, it is important to know if people understand the benefits of physical activity and barriers that prevent them from being physically active. Previous research indicates that Saudi female university students do not engage in regular physical activity. However, there is little research on this demographic. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the perceived benefits of physical activity and determine the most common barriers to physical activity among Saudi female university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United States. The Health Belief Model was utilized to guide this research. Data was collected from 211 female students from Hafr Al batin University (UHA) in KSA and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the USA using the Exercise Benefits / Barriers Scale (EBBS).

The results of the t-tests showed no significant difference between participants in the KSA and USA regarding the strength of their Exercise Benefits; however, the strength of Exercise Barriers was greater among female Saudi students attending university in the USA. Pearson’s Chi-Square tests revealed an association between school of attendance (KSA or USA) and both membership to a sports club and studying PE / Health Education, whereas school of attendance had no association with participating in a PE/Health workshop.

Mann-Whitney tests showed no significant difference in days of exercise between the two groups, but did show a difference in duration of exercise. A partial least squares path analysis indicated that Exercise Benefits and Barriers were predictors of days of exercise per week, while school of attendance was not. Moreover, School Attendance, Exercise Benefits, and Exercise Barriers were predictors of duration of exercise.

This study indicates that while both groups have awareness of the benefits of physical activity, they also face unique barriers. Policy change needs to be enacted in order to facilitate physical activity behaviors for Saudi female university students, and research should utilize a Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle to assess interventions for this subset of the population.