A Qualitative Exploration of the “Critical Window”: Factors Affecting Australian Children’s After-School Physical Activity

• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.10.1.33
• Publication Date: 2016-08-10T12:05:17Z
• Authors: Rebecca Megan Sta...; Kobie Boshoff; James Dollman
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis

The after-school period is potentially a "critical window" for promoting physical activity in children. purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore children's perceptions the factors influencing their engagement during as first phase development questionnaire.Fifty-four South Australian children age 10-13 years participated same gender focus groups. Transcripts, field notes, and documents were analyzed using content analysis. Through an inductive thematic approach, data coded categorized into perceived barriers facilitators according social ecological model.Children identified number factors, including safety neighborhood home settings, distance from places, weather, availability time, competence, enjoyment activity, peer influence, parent influence. New insights bullying teasing by peers fear dangerous animals objects revealed children.In study, hearing voices allowed emergence which may not be exposed existing surveys. These findings are grounded therefore serve valuable contribution literature, leading improved intervention questionnaire design.