@article{ref1,
title=""Girls aren't meant to exercise": perceived influences on physical activity among adolescent girls-the HERizon Project",
journal="Children (Basel, Switzerland)",
year="2021",
author="Wagenmakers, Anton J. M. and Thijssen, Dick and Thompson, Andrew and Belton, Sarahjane and Foweather, Lawrence and Watson, Paula M. and Cowley, Emma S.",
volume="8",
number="1",
pages="e31-e31",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls are less active than boys, with approximately 10% of girls in Ireland and the United Kingdom meeting the minimum recommended daily  physical activity (PA) guidelines. This study investigated factors perceived to  influence PA among adolescent girls from low socioeconomic areas in order to inform  the design of a future intervention (The HERizon Project). <br><br>METHODS: A total of 48  adolescent girls (13-18 years) from low socioeconomic areas of the United Kingdom  and Ireland participated in focus groups (n = 8), to explore perspectives of  physical activity and the influence of gender within this. Focus groups were  thematically analyzed and interpreted within a socioecological framework. <br><br>RESULTS:  Most girls enjoyed PA and were aware of its benefits. They identified both barriers  and facilitators to PA at intrapersonal (fear of judgement and changing priorities  WITH age), interpersonal (changing social pressures and support from others) and  organizational (delivery of PE) levels. Gender inequality was a multilevel factor,  crossing all socioecological levels. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Although many adolescent girls  enjoy PA, their experiences appear to be limited by a fear of judgement and an  overarching sense of gender inequality. Future interventions, such as the HERizon  Project, should address influences at intrapersonal, interpersonal and  organizational levels to promote positive PA experiences for adolescent girls.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2227-9067",
doi="10.3390/children8010031",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children8010031"
}