Higher intrinsic regulation was associated with greater odds of meeting WHO physical activity recommendations, while lack of willpower and lack of time were associated with lower odds among Lithuanian higher education students.
The majority of Lithuanian higher education students in this sample met WHO physical activity recommendations.
Male participants and those from major cities were more likely to meet WHO physical activity recommendations.
Intrinsic and identified regulation were the most prominent motivational factors reported by students.
Lack of energy, lack of willpower, and lack of time were the most frequently reported perceived barriers to physical activity.
Higher intrinsic regulation was independently associated with greater odds of meeting WHO physical activity recommendations in the final multivariable model.
Lack of willpower and lack of time were independently associated with lower odds of meeting WHO physical activity recommendations in the final multivariable model.
Sociodemographic characteristics were not statistically significant predictors of meeting WHO physical activity recommendations in the final adjusted model.
This research surveyed 370 students at Lithuanian universities to understand what motivates them to be physically active and what gets in the way. About three-quarters of students met the World Health Organization's recommended levels of physical activity per week. The study found that students who exercised because they genuinely enjoyed it or personally valued it (called 'intrinsic' and 'identified' motivation) were more likely to be sufficiently active, while those who reported lacking willpower or time were less likely to meet activity guidelines. The study used statistical modeling to identify which factors were most strongly linked to meeting physical activity recommendations after accounting for other variables. Intrinsic motivation nearly doubled the odds of being sufficiently active, while lack of willpower or lack of time roughly cut those odds by two-thirds. Interestingly, while men and students from major cities appeared more active in initial comparisons, these demographic differences disappeared once motivation and barriers were taken into account, suggesting that psychological factors may be more important than who or where someone is. This research suggests that physical activity promotion programs in universities might be more effective if they focus on helping students find personal meaning and enjoyment in exercise, rather than simply providing access or information. Addressing perceived barriers like time management and building self-regulatory skills could also be important targets for interventions. The authors note that because this was a cross-sectional study (a one-time snapshot), it cannot prove cause and effect, and call for future longitudinal and intervention studies to test these ideas more rigorously.
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Upload Your LabsRadišauskas D, Beržanskytė A. (2026). Motivation and Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity Among Lithuanian Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania). https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62081556