Barriers to Resistance Training in College Women

Abstract

This study examined the barriers college women faced in engaging in strength training at fitness facilities in similar numbers to male students, thus showing the needs of women regarding college campus recreation spaces. Understanding the barriers of resistance training for women allows for a future intervention that will aim to increasing the number of women engaging in resistance training. This study recruited from multiple universities and determined what encouraged college-aged women to strength train and what may not have encouraged college-aged women to strength train. Participants were recruited through email, flyer, and social media across multiple universities (N = 33). Demographic measures included age, race, grade classification, university currently attended, weight, height, zip code, Greek life affiliation, first generation, residential category (on-campus, off-campus, or commuter), major, and career goals. In the previous exercise experience section, participants were asked if they currently exercised, as well as how many times per week they utilized a fitness facility. In the barriers to strength training section, participants rated 12 questions (adapted from Peters et al., 2018) on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being strongly disagree, and 5 being strongly agree. These statements covered social, time, physical, and experiential barriers. SPSS descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The barriers to strength training data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation of total responses. The most prominent category of barriers among participants were time. The largest individual barrier was “I feel uncomfortable in a crowded gym” (4.1 ± 1.1). The least impactful category of barriers was experiential. The least impactful single barrier was “my friends will think I’m weird” (1.7 ± 0.8). The mean and standard deviation of each barrier type was measured. Social barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 3.2 ± 1.4. Time barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 3.5 ± 1.0. Physical barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 3.3 ± 1.2. Finally, experiential barriers had a mean and standard deviation of 2.9 ± 1.4. Resistance training has several benefits regarding mental health, cardiovascular health, body composition, and other significant health markers. By understanding that time, or perceived time, is the most prominent barrier for college aged-women resistance training, more effective interventions could be staged to create a healthier community. Creating new ways to get women more involved in resistance training begins with understanding the needs of the population. From this research, a better understanding of the current barriers to RT in college women can allow for changes in the way Universities market their fitness facilities. By focusing on the positive impact short bouts of exercise and resistance training have on mental and physical health, more women may be encouraged to use the facilities for resistance training. The least perceived barrier from this study was experiential. Currently, funds and marketing efforts are largely spent on experiential barriers. By redirecting some of these funds and efforts to education regarding shorter bouts of exercise, and how to fit them into a working day, a greater impact could be achieved.