What are the barriers to physical activity in the early years?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the barriers to physical activity in the early years in areas of high deprivation?; An exploratory sequential mixed methods study in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, England.
IRAS ID
285878
Contact name
Joanna White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of The West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
What are the barriers to physical activity in the early years in areas of high deprivation?; An exploratory sequential mixed methods study in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, England.
Physical activity (PA) has benefits to children’s physical and mental health and is associated with improved outcomes throughout the life course.
Statistics suggest that only one in ten children in England aged two to four years of age are meeting 'The UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines for under 5s'. There is a social gradient for PA levels. Children living in areas of high deprivation are less likely to have exposure to home and community environments that are conducive to PA than those living in areas of Low deprivation.
Increasing levels of PA in the under 5s in the most deprived areas could not only improve health in general, but also bring the statistics of overweight and obesity and readiness for school closer to that of children in less deprived areas reducing the inequality gap.
The aim of this research is to identify barriers to PA for children aged two to four years of age living in areas of high deprivation. Identification of barriers to PA in the early years in areas of high deprivation will inform future interventions aimed at increasing PA levels
An electronic database search of the literature did not identify any research conducted in England exploring barriers to PA in children under five years of age. Therefore, this study will contribute to a gap in the current research.
An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach will be used for this research, consisting of in-depth one to one interviews, a survey and focus group discussions. The research participants will be parents / carers recruited from the Health Visiting Service.
This research is Self-funded.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SW/0141
Date of REC Opinion
19 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion