IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i4p3554-d1071584.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exercise Promotion in Saudi Arabia: Understanding Personal, Environmental, and Social Determinants of Physical Activity Participation and Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Naif Albujulaya

    (School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
    Department of Physical Education, College of Education, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Clare Stevinson

    (School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

Abstract

Physical activity promotion has received increasing attention globally due to the considerable benefits of regular activity for population health and well-being. In Saudi Arabia, government strategy explicitly aims to increase physical activity participation among residents. This study assessed the barriers to physical activity among the general Saudi population including any age and gender differences and examined the contribution of contextual factors and nature relatedness to health and well-being. A representative sample of 1046 Saudi adults (aged 18 years and above) completed an online survey that included four validated scales: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—short form, the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index and the Nature Relatedness Scale. Analyses indicated that young Saudi adults perceived more barriers than middle-aged and older adults, but few gender differences were observed. Furthermore, exercising outdoors, with other people and via sport predicted higher levels of mental well-being, as did nature relatedness. Therefore, developing a comprehensive strategy package that includes the development of outdoor environments for all age groups across regions and fostering a connection with nature may be particularly effective to improve the health and well-being of Saudi adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Naif Albujulaya & Clare Stevinson, 2023. "Exercise Promotion in Saudi Arabia: Understanding Personal, Environmental, and Social Determinants of Physical Activity Participation and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3554-:d:1071584
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3554/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3554/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Melissa R. Marselle & Katherine N. Irvine & Sara L. Warber, 2013. "Walking for Well-Being: Are Group Walks in Certain Types of Natural Environments Better for Well-Being than Group Walks in Urban Environments?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-26, October.
    2. Barbara Eigenschenk & Andreas Thomann & Mike McClure & Larissa Davies & Maxine Gregory & Ulrich Dettweiler & Eduard Inglés, 2019. "Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society. A Systematic Literature Review and Reflections on Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Charlotte Lysa, 2020. "Fighting for the right to play: women’s football and regime-loyal resistance in Saudi Arabia," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(5), pages 842-859, May.
    4. Yahya Al-Nakeeb & Mark Lyons & Lorna J. Dodd & Anwar Al-Nuaim, 2015. "An Investigation into the Lifestyle, Health Habits and Risk Factors of Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Atika Khalaf & Örjan Ekblom & Jan Kowalski & Vanja Berggren & Albert Westergren & Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa, 2013. "Female University Students’ Physical Activity Levels and Associated Factors—A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Fumi Takeda & Haruko Noguchi & Takafumi Monma & Nanako Tamiya, 2015. "How Possibly Do Leisure and Social Activities Impact Mental Health of Middle-Aged Adults in Japan?: An Evidence from a National Longitudinal Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-10, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dahlia Stott & DeAndra Forde & Chetan Sharma & Jonathan M. Deutsch & Michael Bruneau & Jennifer A. Nasser & Mara Z. Vitolins & Brandy-Joe Milliron, 2024. "Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-26, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sonia Chaabane & Karima Chaabna & Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy & Ravinder Mamtani & Sohaila Cheema, 2021. "Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Yan, Sen & Sun, Xinyu & Zhang, Yurong, 2024. "High-speed railway ripples on the greenness: Insight from urban green vegetation cover," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. Ivana Bassi & Vanessa Deotto & Laura Pagani & Luca Iseppi, 2024. "Forest Therapy as an Alternative and Sustainable Rehabilitation Practice: A Patient Group Attitude Investigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Lingdi Zhao & Minghui Lu & Haixia Wang, 2024. "Research on the Effect of the Healthy Cities Pilot Policy on the Labor Supply Time of Middle-Aged and Elderly Workers in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-22, October.
    5. David Jungwirth & Daniela Haluza, 2023. "Sports and the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction of Climbers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Míriam Rocher & Bruno Silva & Gonçalo Cruz & Renato Bentes & Josep Lloret & Eduard Inglés, 2020. "Benefits of Outdoor Sports in Blue Spaces. The Case of School Nautical Activities in Viana do Castelo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Piotr Próchniak & Agnieszka Próchniak, 2023. "Adventure Recreation in Blue Spaces and the Wellbeing of Young Polish Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Anwar Al-Nuaim & Ayazullah Safi, 2023. "Factors Influencing Saudi Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Qualitative Study Based on the Social Ecological Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-15, May.
    9. Tiia Kekäläinen & Alexandra M. Freund & Sarianna Sipilä & Katja Kokko, 2020. "Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations between Leisure Time Physical Activity, Mental Well-Being and Subjective Health in Middle Adulthood," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 1099-1116, September.
    10. Petra María Pérez Alonso-Geta & M. Carmen Bellver Moreno, 2020. "Hygiene and Eating Healthy Habits and Practices in Spanish Families with Children Aged 6 to 14," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-11, November.
    11. Sergi Cerezo-Esteve & Xavier De Blas & Francesc Solanellas, 2024. "The Social Impact of Sports Habits on Sustainable Tourism Perceptions: A Case Study in Alt Urgell," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Yun Shu & Chengzhao Wu & Yujia Zhai, 2022. "Impacts of Landscape Type, Viewing Distance, and Permeability on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-22, August.
    13. Amanda L. Folk & Brooke E. Wagner & Samantha L. Hahn & Nicole Larson & Daheia J. Barr-Anderson & Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, 2021. "Changes to Physical Activity during a Global Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis among a Diverse Population-Based Sample of Emerging Adults in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, April.
    14. Peng Yang & Shanshan Dai & Honggang Xu & Peng Ju, 2018. "Perceived Environmental, Individual and Social Factors of Long-Distance Collective Walking in Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, November.
    15. Abbas Smiley & William Ramos & Layne Elliott & Stephen Wolter, 2020. "Comparing the Trail Users with Trail Non-Users on Physical Activity, Sleep, Mood and Well-Being Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    16. Dahlia Stott & DeAndra Forde & Chetan Sharma & Jonathan M. Deutsch & Michael Bruneau & Jennifer A. Nasser & Mara Z. Vitolins & Brandy-Joe Milliron, 2024. "Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-26, March.
    17. Fanli Jia & Kendall Soucie & Kyle Matsuba & Michael W. Pratt, 2021. "Meaning in Life Mediates the Association between Environmental Engagement and Loneliness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    18. Huda Al Mulhem & Khadija El Alaoui & Maura A. E. Pilotti, 2023. "A Sustainable Academic Journey in the Middle East: An Exploratory Study of Female College Students’ Self-Efficacy and Perceived Social Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.
    19. Topaz Shrestha & Zelda Di Blasi & Marica Cassarino, 2021. "Natural or Urban Campus Walks and Vitality in University Students: Exploratory Qualitative Findings from a Pilot Randomised Controlled Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    20. Rosie K. Lindsay & Christina Carmichael & Peter M. Allen & Matt Fossey & Lauren Godier-McBard & Laurie Butler & Mike Trott & Shahina Pardhan & Mark A. Tully & Jason J. Wilson & Andy Torrance & Lee Smi, 2022. "Fishing Participation, Motivators and Barriers among UK Anglers with Disabilities: Opportunities and Implications for Green Social Prescribing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-10, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3554-:d:1071584. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.