Physical Activity Among Rural Men: Barriers and Preferences
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 20 — August 21, 2023
PEER REVIEWED
Figure 1.
Facilities or locations for physical activity available to a nationwide sample (N = 447) of rural US men and percentage who used them.
| Exercise facility or location | Use this | Available but do not use | Not available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks | 62.4 | 21.3 | 16.3 |
| Nature centers | 63.7 | 14.7 | 21.6 |
| Sidewalks around home | 68.9 | 7.8 | 23.3 |
| Private yard | 60.8 | 15.1 | 24.1 |
| In-home area | 64.5 | 11.1 | 24.4 |
| Outdoor recreational areas | 54.6 | 18.2 | 27.2 |
| Gyms | 44.4 | 28.3 | 27.3 |
| Sidewalks around work | 51.5 | 14.3 | 34.2 |
| Swimming pools | 41.8 | 21.0 | 37.2 |
| Schools | 34.4 | 20.0 | 45.5 |
| Community center | 32.0 | 21.3 | 46.7 |
Figure 2.
Selected features preferred or required in a physical activity program by a nationwide sample (N = 447) of rural US men.
| Feature | % |
|---|---|
| Includes instructions on how to exercise | 81.0 |
| Can be done from home | 78.1 |
| Focuses on incorporating physical activity into daily routine (eg, commuting) | 74.2 |
| Promotes exercising in the outdoors instead of indoors | 71.2 |
| Provides instructions on the benefits of exercise | 70.1 |
| Includes a component focused on developing stress management skills or mindfulness | 68.0 |
| Includes individual (one-on-one) coaching | 68.0 |
| Designed for men for my specific age group | 66.9 |
| Provides education on the importance of exercise | 66.4 |
| Designed for men in rural communities | 64.8 |
| Involves sports | 64.0 |
| Uses fitness tracker (eg, Fitbit) | 62.2 |
| Uses competition with others to motivate | 62.2 |
| Incorporates support from family or friends | 60.3 |
| Conducted in person | 59.9 |
| Conducted via social media or online community | 59.9 |
| Men-only program | 54.1 |
| Includes group exercise | 53.8 |
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.