Avoiding exercise: Why inactive adults do not engage in exercise programs

The purpose of this study was to identify inactive adults' exercise barriers and determine whether science can predict if barriers apply to specific demographics. Prior studies have investigated barriers, but more research is needed. A 68-item modified Likert-scale questionnaire created by the researcher was used to identify demographics and barriers. One hundred thirty-seven completed questionnaires were returned by inactive participants. Results indicated that the most popular barriers were: I'll exercise later, exercise is extra work, too tired, too lazy, and can't motivate myself (won't exercise alone, I'd rather relax). SPSS was used for descriptive analyses and MANOVA. Significance was set at .05. Predictive barriers included: I'm healthy, so I don't need exercise; I'll be depressed afterwards, and I'm afraid I could fall, injure myself, or have a heart attack. These results could help healthcare and exercise science professionals design effective exercise interventions for inactive adults, but further research is needed.