Perceived barriers to sports participation among adolescent girls from low socioeconomic status neighbourhoods

This study examined perceived barriers to sports participation among adolescent girls from low socioeconomic status (SES) neighbourhoods. A total of 11 semi-structured focus groups were conducted, involving 44 adolescent girls who were not engaged in organized sports. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes, and revealed that; 1) Participants prioritized homework, household duties and socializing with friends over sports. 2) Girls refrained from participating in sport due to fear of not fitting in because of ethnic background and reluctance to participate alone. Moreover, 3) feelings of inadequacy in sporting abilities, 4) bodily discomfort, and negative body image were perceived as barriers. 5) Finally, gender stereotypes, depicting sports as unsuitable for girls, along with negative attitudes from boys, further discouraged girls’ engagement. These findings offer a nuanced understanding of the barriers faced by this underrepresented group, informing the design of future interventions aimed at promoting sports participation among adolescent girls from low SES neighbourhoods.