Differences in physical activity and perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity between LGBTQ + and non-LGBTQ + college students.

Publisher: Routledge Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8214119 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1940-3208 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07448481 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Am Coll Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2010- : New York : Routledge
Original Publication: [Washington, D.C. : Published by the Helen Dwight Reid Educational Foundation, in cooperation with the American College Health Association, c1982-

Sexual and Gender Minorities* ; Students*; Exercise ; Female ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Universities

Objective To compare physical activity (PA) behaviors and perceived benefits and barriers among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and non-LGBTQ + college students. Participants : Participants were 406 college students. Methods: Surveys assessed PA behaviors and perceptions of PA among college students. Multivariate ANOVA assessed differences in PA behaviors and perceptions of PA. Results: LGBTQ + students (n = 71) engaged in 17% less aerobic PA and 42% less resistance training than their counterparts (n = 335; both p < .05). LGBTQ + students reported 6.5% lower total Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale scores and 13.3% higher Barriers Scale scores (both p < .05). Conclusions: LGBTQ + college students are at higher risk of not meeting PA guidelines than non-LGBTQ + students. More perceived barriers and fewer perceived benefits to PA may contribute to this disparity. Identification of LGBTQ+-specific barriers to PA among college students is needed to inform programming to increase PA among this at-risk community.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; college students; perceived benefits and barriers; physical activity

Date Created: 20201201 Date Completed: 20220930 Latest Revision: 20221027

20231215

10.1080/07448481.2020.1842426

33258730