Barriers to and suggestions for a healthful, active lifestyle as perceived by rural and urban Costa Rican adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the perceptions of rural and urban Costa Rican adolescents regarding which barriers and motivators affect their adoption of an active lifestyle.


METHODS
Data were collected in focus group discussions.


METHODS
108 male and female adolescents aged 12 to 18 from the 7th to 11th grades.


METHODS
Two urban and 1 rural high school in San José, Costa Rica.


METHODS
Active lifestyle; barriers and motivators for active life.


METHODS
Data were reviewed for emerging themes, and themes were coded using content analysis procedures.


RESULTS
Major barriers: (a) physical education curriculum was focused on competitive sports; (b) lack of facilities in the school and community environments; (c) family did not provide good role models and reinforced the socially expected gender roles. Key motivators: (a) changed the physical education curriculum to focus on leisure and recreational activities; (b) increased the availability of facilities both in the school and in the community; and (c) provided a strong social support network.


CONCLUSIONS
The school, community, and family environments are potential targets for physical activity interventions for adolescents. Future studies should explore in depth the influence of adolescent socialization patterns (particularly for females) in the establishment of an active lifestyle.
Costa Rican Institute for Research and Education on Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA), Ministry of Health, Tres Ríos, Costa Rica. rmonge@inciensa.sa.cr
Rafael
R
Monge-Rojas
Carlos
C
Garita-Arce
Marta
M
Sánchez-López
Uriyoán
U
Colón-Ramos
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010379:Peer Group; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012931:Social Environment; D013177:Sports; D014505:Urban Population