Table 2.

Summary of studies characteristics and findings on the barriers to physical activity.

Study	Study Design	Settings	Sample Size	Mean Age of Participants	Key Findings.	Barrier themes
Baruth et al.42	Case-control study	Columbia, South Carolina	28	20–50 years	Injuries and health conditions; Issues related to body size; Competing demands on their time and lack of energy Lack of motivation; Unavailability of exercise partners; Rude and disrespectful comments by people. Lack of access to facilities; High cost of a gym membership.	Intrapersonal barriers Social barriers Socio-economic barriers
Carr et al.43	Randomized controlled trial	North Carolina	234	50 years and above	Lack of willpower; General sense of role overwhelm; Haircare and maintenance. Cost; Lack of exercise resources.	Intrapersonal barriers. Socio-economic barriers
Mama et al.44	Case-control	Harris, Houston and Travis Country, Austin, Texas	164	25–60 years	Body composition and body image; Motivational readiness for weight loss Environmental changes.	Intrapersonal barriers. Environmental barriers
Huebschmann et al.45	Cross-sectional study	Metropolitan Denver area	51	19–73 years	Sweating out my hairstyle; Drying effects on hairstyle; Lack of self-discipline; I am too exhausted at the end of the day Lack of money; Lack of equipment.	Intrapersonal barriers. Socio-economic barriers.
Joseph et al.46	Case-control	Phoenix, Arizona	23	24–49 years	Perspiration while performing Physical Activity; Maintaining a work-appropriate and socially acceptable hairstyle that is convenient for physical activity; Social comparison to women of other races/ethnicities.	Intrapersonal and Social barriers.
Adamus-Leach et al.47	Cross-sectional study	Houston and Austin, Texas	388	20–65 years	Individual Income status Perception of neighborhood environment	Socio-economic barrier Environmental barrier
Hall et al.48	Cross-sectional survey study	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	103	21–60 years	Hair concerns and maintenance	Intrapersonal barriers.
Gaston et al.49	Cross-sectional study	Detroit, Michigan	1 558	23–35 years	Hair product use/maintenance	Intrapersonal barriers.
Robinson & Wicks50	Cross-sectional study	Alabama	19	21–60 years	Type of employment and h worked. Religiosity.	Intrapersonal barriers. Social barrier.
Scott et al.51	Observational study: Use of self-administered questionnaires	Not stated	113	Middle-aged. Mean age: 51.3 years	Not enough time; No knowledge of exercise techniques. No one to exercise with me. Lack of access to a gym and childcare Unsafe environment.	Intrapersonal barriers. Social barrier. Environmental barrier.
Gothe & Kendall52	Qualitative research (with 3 Focus groups)	Detroit metro area and surrounding urban communities	20	Between 55 and 75 years, mean age: age = (63.15 ​± ​4.5) years	Time; physical health and age-related limitations Peer pressure and family responsibilities Weather and poor neighborhood condition	Intrapersonal barriers Social barriers. Environmental barriers
James et al.53	Cross-sectional survey study	North-central Florida, USA	413	Mean age: (35.63 ​± ​14.72) years	Busy lifestyle and not having enough time; Too much hair care Expensive gym membership; No one to exercise with; Living in an unsafe neighborhood	Intrapersonal barrier. Socio-economic; Social and Environmental barriers.
Ingram et al.31	Qualitative exploratory design with focus group methodology (4 focus groups)	Chicago	33	44–69 years. Mean age: 54 years	Family and work responsibilities; Musculoskeletal problems and weight issues associated with walking. Lack of role models within the community. Weather; Neighborhood safety.	Intrapersonal barrier. Social barrier Environmental barrier.
Jackson et al.54	Cross-sectional descriptive study	North Omaha	47	19 years and above	Obesity; Fatigue; Haircare concern; Family and friends; Lack of time. Social support for physical activity.	Intrapersonal barrier. Social barrier.
Zenk et al.55	Correlational, observational research design	Metropolitan Chicago	97	25–64 years	Affect (feelings). Poor weather.	Intrapersonal barrier. Environmental barrier.
Schoeny et al.56	Randomized controlled trial	Chicago, Illinois area	284	40–65 years	Physical and psychological health; Pain; BMI; Perceived walkability; Children in the household; Employment. Neighborhood characteristics (Assault/battery rate).	Intrapersonal barrier. Environmental barrier.
Tenfelde et al.57	Qualitative Research (Focus group) study	The urban Midwest, Chicago, USA	22	18 years and above	Access to Yoga classes within the community; Location of classes; Quality of instruction. The high cost of yoga classes	Intrapersonal barrier Socio-economic barrier.
Kinsman et al.58	Qualitative focus group study	Agincourt sub-district of rural Mpumalanga province, north-eastern South Africa,	51	13–19 years	Body image ideals. Poverty and associated social stigma; Gender bias in accessing facilities and competitions; Parental interference due to social violence.	Intrapersonal barrier. Social and Socio-economic barriers.
Alvarado et al.59	Population-based cross-sectional study	Barbados	17	25–35 years	Laidback mentality; Lack of opportunity to walk to jobs, grocery stores, etc. due to a distant residential area. Gender norms; Limited indoor space for home exercise; Limited access to group/gym exercise	Intrapersonal barrier. Social barriers.
Walker.60	Qualitative Research Design (using grounded theory approach)	Las Vegas, US	12 (6 mothers, 6 daughters)	Women 42–50 years; Girls 12–17 years	Body image perception; Lack of interest, knowledge, time, and transportation Lack of physical activity history/ motivation; peer pressure; Fear of sexual stereotypes; Racial stereotypes and sports Weather.	Intrapersonal barriers Social barriers Environmental barrier