Gender differences in barriers to sports participation on the transition from adolescence to young adulthood in a mediterranean region

Objective

This study explored gender differences in perceived barriers to physical activity across adolescence and their impact on sport participation.

Methods

A 3-year longitudinal survey followed Spanish secondary school students (n = 180) into their first year of university (2012–2014). Data were collected on sociodemographic variables, perceived barriers to physical activity, and sport participation. Gender differences and effect sizes were assessed using Odds Ratios (ORs) and Cohen's D.

Results

In high school, sport participation was 45 % for girls and 68 % for boys, decreasing to 12 % and 10 % respectively at university. Barriers to physical activity were reported by 59 % of students in high school and 63 % at university, more frequently by girls (OR = 3.66 in high school; OR = 3.15 at university). Among those who never perceived barriers, sport participation was close to 80 %. When barriers emerged only at university, participation dropped to 29 %. Sport participation was consistently lower in girls across all scenarios. The most common barriers were lack of time and too much homework, while cost-related barriers became more prominent at university.

Conclusions

Understanding how physical activity barriers change by gender during the transition to university is key to designing effective interventions. For girls, early prevention is essential. University-emerging barriers strongly reduce sport involvement regardless of gender.