Physical activity among young educated Saudi women

Abstract

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for the long term health of young people. Health risk behaviours established during youth often persist into adulthood, resulting in potentially harmful effects on long-term health. Although research on physical activity in Saudi Arabia is limited, the few available studies reveal high rates of physical inactivity, especially among youth and women. Hence, there is an urgent need to understand the factors that may shape engagement of young Saudi women in physical activity in Saudi Arabia. This study uses the Social Ecological Model of physical activity to analyse the effects of multiple factors (individual, social environment, physical environment, and policy) on physical activity behaviour among young educated Saudi women (YESW). A sample of YESW aged between 18 and 24 years old currently enrolled as undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at one University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were recruited. The study used a combination of in-depth interviews, focus groups and self-reported surveys to explore YESW’s understanding of physical activity and the factors that affect their engagement in it. The findings highlight a range of individual, environmental and policy barriers to physical activity behaviour among YESW. In addition, findings show how gender influences these factors and shapes physical activity behaviour. Potential intervention strategies include empowering young women in decision making, raising family and male guardians’ support for physical activity, and increasing affordable and accessible physical activity options at individual and environmental levels.