Rural Adolescents' Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity

Objective: We identified barriers and facilitators to physical activity (PA) among adolescents in a rural area. Methods: We conducted 4 focus groups of 6^th-to-8^th -grade adolescents and 4 fo- cus groups of adults in a rural community in a Midwestern state. Focus group discussion was analyzed to identify themes influencing PA and categorized into Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. Results: Barriers included lack of motivation and confidence, distance to the activities, and lack of options that adolescents like. Facilitators were acceptance by peers, prioritization by the family, more education for the activity, and more gender equal opportunities. Conclusions: Rural adolescents desire greater skills and self-confidence to complete the PA, acceptance by peers, and a greater variety of activities.