The Secret Struggle of the Active Girl: A Qualitative Synthesis of Interpersonal Factors That Influence Physical Activity in Adolescent Girls

Abstract

The author conducted a systematic review of 19 international, multidisciplinary, qualitative studies of interpersonal factors that influence physical activity in adolescent girls. Themes were deductively generated based on reported findings, and were organized according to frequency of occurrence. Themes were further organized according to a theoretical model to illustrate how interpersonal, perceptual, and situational influences affect physical activity in adolescent girls. The three most frequently discovered themes follow: (a) ability comparison and competition; (b) family, peer, and teacher influence; and (c) appearance concerns. It is important to consider the influence of gender role conflict on physical activity.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Dr. Tracy Harrison at The University of Texas at Austin for her help and guidance in writing this article.