What barriers prevent people from being physically active, what enablers support participation, and how can interventions shift the balance?
Identify and analyse the barriers and enablers to physical activity participation, and evaluate strategies that reduce barriers and strengthen enablers.
The individual, social and structural barriers and enablers to physical activity, and how interventions can reduce barriers and strengthen enablers to lift participation.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
You must identify and analyse barriers and enablers to participation, and evaluate strategies that reduce barriers or strengthen enablers for a particular group.
Levels of barriers and enablers
It helps to sort influences into three levels, because effective strategies usually target the right level.
Individual (intrapersonal) factors.
- Barriers: low motivation, perceived lack of time, low skill or confidence, poor health or injury, negative past experiences, body-image concerns.
- Enablers: enjoyment, competence, intrinsic motivation, goal setting, perceived health benefits.
Social (interpersonal) factors.
- Barriers: lack of support from family or friends, no one to participate with, negative peer attitudes, few role models.
- Enablers: encouragement from family and peers, participating with friends, supportive coaching, visible role models.
Structural (environmental and organisational) factors.
- Barriers: cost (fees, equipment, transport), distance and lack of facilities, unsafe environments, inconvenient times, lack of policy support or inclusive programming.
- Enablers: affordable and accessible facilities, safe spaces (paths, parks, pools), convenient scheduling, supportive school and government policy, inclusive program design.
Why motivation is not enough
Telling people to "just be more active" rarely works, because many barriers are social or structural and outside individual control. A person can be highly motivated yet unable to participate if the nearest facility is unaffordable or hours away. This is why analysis should not stop at the individual level.
Strategies and interventions
Interventions can target one or several levels at once:
- Individual level: skill-building programs, confidence-focused beginner sessions, goal-setting and education on health benefits.
- Social level: buddy and team programs, mentoring, family-inclusive sessions and promoting relatable role models.
- Structural level: subsidised fees and vouchers, building or opening facilities, safe active-transport routes, flexible session times and inclusive policy.
Evaluating a strategy means judging whether it addresses the real barrier, whether it reaches the target group, and whether it is sustainable, not just whether it sounds positive.