title: Motivation and Barriers for Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between motivation and barriers for physical activity, and physical activity behavior in women living in socioeconomic disadvantage. This study also examined whether weight control intentions moderate those associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 1664 women aged 18-46 years was collected at baseline and three-year follow-up as part of the Resilience for Eating and Activity Despite Inequality study. In mail-based surveys, women reported sociodemographic and neighborhood environmental characteristics, intrinsic motivation, goals and perceived family barriers to be active, weight control intentions and leisure-time physical activity (assessed through the IPAQ-L). Linear regression models assessed the association of intrinsic motivation, goals and barriers with physical activity at baseline and follow-up, adjusting for environmental characteristics and also physical activity at baseline (for longitudinal analyses), and the moderating effects of weight control intentions were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intrinsic motivation and, to a lesser extent, appearance and relaxation goals for being physically active were consistently associated with leisure-time physical activity at baseline and follow-up. Perceived family barriers, health, fitness, weight and stress relief goals were associated with leisure-time physical activity only at baseline. Moderated regression analyses revealed that weight control intentions significantly moderated the association between weight goals and leisure-time physical activity at baseline (β = 0.538, 99% CI = 0.057, 0.990) and between intrinsic motivation and leisure-time physical activity at follow-up (β = 0.666, 99% CI = 0.188, 1.145). For women actively trying to control their weight, intrinsic motivation was significantly associated with leisure-time physical activity at follow-up (β = 0.184, 99% CI = 0.097, 0.313).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that, especially in women trying to control their weight, intrinsic motivation plays an important role in sustaining physical activity participation over time. Also, weight goals for being physically active seem to play a role regarding short-term physical activity participation in this particular population. Addressing these motivational features may be important when promoting physical activity participation in women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult