Table 3 Barriers of young adult women’s PA

Intrapersonal

Lack of time

All

Attitudes

Health is not controllable

10, 13

PA as a sign of modernity and wealth

8, 14

Lack of interests (dislike for PA)

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10

Competing priorities (others people/other things)

4, 6, 7, 13, 15, 17, 20

Competence

Lack of PA knowledge/awareness

4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21

Lack of PA skills

1, 5, 20

Self awareness

Lack of motivations

4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, 20, 23

Lazy or tiredness

1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17, 23

Lack of self-efficacy (hard to maintain)

2, 7, 20

Interpersonal

Commitments

Family chores & caring duties

2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23

Feeling guilty about doing PA for herself

9, 23

Embarrassment

Fear of judgement of body & looks

4, 18, 19, 20, 22

Fear of judgement of skills & knowledge

3, 17

Social relatedness

Lack of social support/relatedness

4, 5, 10

Experts/Authority

Lack of good instructors

1, 4, 5

Orgnizational

Home/Family

Inactive family environment/traditions

1, 10, 12, 14, 20, 21, 23

Lack of substantial help from family

1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23

Community

Inactive community/neighborhood

6, 11, 17, 18, 20

School

Negative PE experience

1, 4, 12, 16, 18,

Academic priority

1, 14, 18, 20, 21, 22

Work agency

Excessive work loads

9, 11, 17, 19

PA organization

Financial issue (unaffordable)

2, 4, 11, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21

Lack of accessbility (information, facilities)

2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 18, 21, 23

Lack of tailered programs

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 16, 17, 19

Community

Cultural norms

Pressure of mainstream/social media beauty

3, 18, 22

Lack of PA culture

1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 21, 22, 23

Patriarchal family setting

6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 23

Gender norms

Meeting traditional role duties (mother/wife identity)

6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 22, 23

Gender norms limit (unfeminine)

1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23

Men/others gazing

4, 6, 10, 14, 19

Religious aspects

Religion’s precedence over PA

1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 32, 23

Public modesty (co-ed environment, dress code)

1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 21, 22, 23

Insufficient understanding from others/community

1, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16

Environmental

Weather conditions

2, 4, 10, 16, 17, 21

Physical environment

Lack of space at home

13

Lack of “proper” places (park, gym, etc.)

4, 6, 11, 17

Transportation

Sedentary society

8, 10, 11, 13, 17, 23

Inconvenience transportation

2, 3, 4, 13, 17, 19, 21

Safety issues

Unsafe environment

8, 10, 11, 20, 21, 22

Potential risks for women

8, 11, 20, 21, 22