Authors
Mohammad Rabiei, Department of Counseling and Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Mehdi Ghaffari, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Zabihollah Kaveh, Department of Counseling and Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Rezvan Salehi, Department of Counseling and Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
Masoud Moghaddam, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, USA
Timothy Baghurst, Interdisciplinary Center for Athletic Coaching, College of Education, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
International Journal of Exercise Science 19(5): 5010, 2026.
DOI: 10.70252/IJES2026510
Abstract
Background: Physical inactivity is a global health concern driven by complex social and environmental factors. This study investigated psychosocial and cultural barriers to physical activity and their associations with physical activity, sedentary behavior, and physiologic health indicators. Methods: This mixed-methods, exploratory sequential design study involved 298 adults from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran. Data included the Perceived Barriers to Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire and objective measurements of body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure, which were analyzed using multiple regression. Results: The average psychosocial barrier score showed a moderate negative relationship with physical activity levels (r = -0.41, representing an effect size of R² = 0.17, p < 0.001) and weak-to-moderate positive correlations with BMI (r = 0.29, R² = 0.08, p < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.21, R² = 0.04, p < 0.05). Motivational barriers independently predicted higher BMI (β = 0.35, p < 0.001), while social barriers significantly predicted SBP (β = 0.28, p = 0.015). Conclusion: Contextual barriers, particularly motivational and social constraints, are key predictors of sedentary behaviors and adverse physiological outcomes. From a public health perspective, interventions must go beyond simple educational campaigns and explicitly target the multilevel socio-environmental and motivational constraints to effectively reduce cardiovascular and metabolic risks.
Recommended Citation
Rabiei, Mohammad; Ghaffari, Mehdi; Kaveh, Zabihollah; Salehi, Rezvan; Moghaddam, Masoud; Baghurst, Timothy (2026) “Psychosocial and Cultural Barriers to Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Associations with Sedentary Behavior and Physiological Health Indicators Among Adults in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran,” International Journal of Exercise Science, 19(5):5010.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/IJES2026510