Qualitative Elicitation of Physical Activity Salient Beliefs Among Turkish Adolescent Girls

Background: This study aims to investigate salient beliefs toward physical activity by gathering qualitative data through open-ended questions among high school-aged female adolescents in Turkey.

Methods: A sample of 259 Turkish high school students, aged between 14 and 17, were randomly selected to participate in this study. Open-ended questions address 3 main components of the Theory of Planned Behavior, attitudes, perceived control, and social norms. Content analysis is employed to categorize the data according to themes, during the elicitation process.

Results: The results were categorized as variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Positive attitude contributors included health expectations, emotions, fitness expectations, learning, and socialization, while negative attitude contributors encompassed adverse health outcomes and emotions. Second, perceived competence and efficacy emerged as positive contributors to perceived behavior control, whereas factors, such as time constraints, health-related barriers, fitness barriers, environmental and economic barriers, and perceived negative competence and efficacy were identified as negative influencers of perceived behavior control. Last, it was found that families, friends, and teachers played significant roles in shaping social norms.

Conclusions: Offering attractive choices for physical activities while explaining the positive impact on both physical, and mental health, as well as physical fitness is important for positive attitudes. Providing positive experiences and emphasizing the aspects of physical activity that support academic productivity are important factors in supporting perceived behavioral control. Finally, advocating for environments that promote physical activity behaviors among peers and ensure comprehensive support from families and educators is valuable in terms of subjective norms to increase physical activity intentions.