TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing motivators and barriers to active healthy living among a multicultural college student body
T2 - A qualitative inquiry
AU - Leinberger-Jabari, Andrea
AU - Al-Ajlouni, Yazan
AU - Ieriti, Maddalena
AU - Cannie, Scott
AU - Mladenovic, Marko
AU - Ali, Raghib
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the NYUAD Research Institute. The authors would like to thank all of the students who participated in the focus groups. We would like to also acknowledge the support from the Fitness Department, Fitness Center, and campus catering staff for their support and feedback throughout this project.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank all of the students who participated in the focus groups. We would like to also acknowledge the support from the Fitness Department, Fitness Center, and campus catering staff for their support and feedback throughout this project.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Lack of physical activity and poor eating habits have been associated with numerous negative health outcomes, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Previous research demonstrated that physical activity decreases throughout young adulthood and adolescence. This was a qualitative investigation into potential barriers and motivators to healthy eating and being physically active among a diverse group of college students in a US institution in the Middle East. A total of six focus groups were conducted (N = 35) to discuss motivators and barriers to healthy eating and being physically active, perceptions, culture, and intervention ideas. Stress and time management emerged as barriers, while social supports were a motivating factor for students. Future research should investigate the unique effect of transitioning into college in the context of the Middle East. Interventions targeting factors that affect the physical activity and eating habits of young adults can help improve longer-term health outcomes.
AB - Lack of physical activity and poor eating habits have been associated with numerous negative health outcomes, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Previous research demonstrated that physical activity decreases throughout young adulthood and adolescence. This was a qualitative investigation into potential barriers and motivators to healthy eating and being physically active among a diverse group of college students in a US institution in the Middle East. A total of six focus groups were conducted (N = 35) to discuss motivators and barriers to healthy eating and being physically active, perceptions, culture, and intervention ideas. Stress and time management emerged as barriers, while social supports were a motivating factor for students. Future research should investigate the unique effect of transitioning into college in the context of the Middle East. Interventions targeting factors that affect the physical activity and eating habits of young adults can help improve longer-term health outcomes.
KW - Motivators
KW - multicultural
KW - nutrition
KW - physical activity
KW - qualitative research
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U2 - 10.1080/07448481.2021.1898403
DO - 10.1080/07448481.2021.1898403
M3 - Article
C2 - 33739916
AN - SCOPUS:85103186809
SN - 0744-8481
VL - 71
SP - 338
EP - 342
JO - Journal of American College Health
JF - Journal of American College Health
IS - 2
ER -