Coping With Barriers to Vigorous Physical Activity During Transition to University

This study examined barriers to vigorous physical activity (VPA) among 132 students transitioning from high school to the first year of a university. An ecological framework was used to classify barriers, and coping self-efficacy (CSE) and task self-efficacy (TSE) were investigated as predictors of VPA. Consistent with population data, 47% of the sample failed to meet national recommendations for VPA. Participants most often cited institutional, intrapersonal, and interpersonal barriers. CSE predicted TSE, which predicted VPA. A greater understanding of ecologically categorized barriers and the relationship of self-efficacy to VPA may aid health care practitioners in the design of targeted interventions to facilitate VPA and health among freshmen students.