Working Experience and Perceived Physical Activity and Exercise Barriers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between physical activity levels and the type of barriers of engaging in physical activity and exercise depending on working experience years among women who have sedentary long hours jobs. Participants of this study were (101) female workers (M=36.6, SD=6.2 years) who were recruited randomly from (Yarmouk University, Irbid Jordan). Participants were grouped according to years of working experience: less than 5 years (n=34), 5-9 years (n=32), more than 10 years (n=35). Current exercise levels and perceived barriers to physical activity were assessed by the Arabic short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Barriers to Being Active Quiz of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) questionnaire. Results: No significant differences were observed between years of experience and type of barriers. Whereas, the results of this study showed that the physical activity and exercise barrier among all participants where the lack of energy (M=6.1, SD=1.7), followed by lack of time barrier (M=5.9, SD=1.8). The findings of this study suggest that working women despite their working experience have similar physical activity and exercising barriers, that might benefit from interventions and strategies to overcome barriers by enhancing physical activity and exercise during working hours.

Keywords

• physical activity
• exercise
• barriers
• working experience years