Parental perceptions of children's physical activity participation: An exploration of satisfaction, school-based engagement, barriers to participation and preferred strategies for improvement.
Ojukwu C, Chukwunonyelum Judith O, et al. • PloS one • 2026
Parental satisfaction with children's physical activity opportunities was 'mixed and frequently conditional,' with dissatisfaction driven by academic prioritisation, limited time for physical education, and inadequate recreational facilities in Enugu City, Nigeria.
Key Findings
Results
Parents perceived children's physical activity participation as context-dependent and variable rather than consistent.
This was the first of five themes identified through reflexive thematic analysis of 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews.
Study was conducted in Enugu City, Nigeria, with parents of children enrolled in nursery, primary, and secondary schools.
Participants were recruited purposively from community settings including churches, marketplaces, shopping centres, and recreational areas.
Analysis followed Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis framework and reporting adhered to COREQ guidelines.
Results
Parental satisfaction with children's physical activity opportunities existed along a continuum from high satisfaction to dissatisfaction.
This was identified as the second major theme across the 20 parent interviews.
Many participants expressed dissatisfaction related to academic prioritisation, limited time for physical education, and inadequate recreational facilities.
Overall parental satisfaction was described as 'mixed and frequently conditional.'
Satisfaction levels appeared to vary based on contextual factors such as school type and community resources.
Results
Parents identified several enablers of children's physical activity participation, including accessible spaces, social support, parental involvement, and safety.
Perceived enablers constituted the third major theme identified in the analysis.
Four specific enablers were named: accessible spaces, social support, parental involvement, and safety.
These enablers were drawn from accounts of 20 parents across nursery, primary, and secondary school contexts.
Parental involvement was identified as both an enabler and a factor whose absence was a barrier.
Results
Parents identified multiple barriers to children's physical activity, notably time constraints, academic prioritisation, limited facilities, safety concerns, and parental availability.
Perceived barriers constituted the fourth major theme identified across the 20 interviews.
Academic prioritisation was specifically cited as a driver of both dissatisfaction with PA opportunities and reduced participation.
Limited facilities and safety concerns were named as distinct barrier categories.
Parental availability was identified as a barrier, reflecting the role parents play in facilitating or restricting children's PA.
The study was conducted in a low- and middle-income country (Nigeria) context, where limited empirical evidence on these barriers previously existed.
Results
Parents identified school-based reforms, parental engagement, community collaboration, and policy-level support as preferred strategies for improving children's physical activity.
Strategies for improvement constituted the fifth and final major theme from the thematic analysis.
Four categories of strategies were identified: school-based reforms, parental engagement, community collaboration, and policy-level support.
The findings suggest that 'improving both satisfaction and participation may require strengthened school-based physical activity provision, greater parental engagement, and enhanced community infrastructure.'
School-based reforms were specifically emphasized, reflecting parental concern about limited physical education time.
Methods
The study used a qualitative design with 20 parents recruited purposively from community settings in Enugu City, Nigeria.
In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parents.
Participants had children enrolled across nursery, primary, and secondary school levels.
Recruitment occurred in churches, marketplaces, shopping centres, and recreational areas.
Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim prior to analysis.
Reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
What This Means
This research explores how parents in Enugu City, Nigeria perceive their children's physical activity—whether they are satisfied with available opportunities, what they see as helping or hindering participation, and what changes they would like to see. Researchers interviewed 20 parents of school-age children and found that satisfaction was mixed: some parents were happy with their children's activity levels, but many were not, largely because schools prioritize academic work over physical education and because recreational facilities in the community are limited. Safety concerns and parents' own time and availability also came up repeatedly as factors that make it harder for children to be active.
The study also found that when conditions were right—such as when safe spaces were available, when parents could be involved, and when social support existed—children were more likely to be physically active. Parents pointed to school reforms (like more dedicated physical education time), better community infrastructure, and policy-level changes as the kinds of improvements that would most help. This is one of the first studies to examine these issues specifically from the perspective of Nigerian parents, filling a gap in research from low- and middle-income country settings.
This research suggests that boosting children's physical activity in similar settings is not simply a matter of individual choice or motivation—it requires action at multiple levels, including schools, communities, and government policy. For parents to feel confident that their children are getting enough physical activity, the structural conditions around them, such as safe play spaces, adequate school programs, and community support, need to improve alongside efforts to engage families more directly in encouraging active lifestyles.
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Ojukwu C, Chukwunonyelum Judith O, Onyekwelu A, Eleje C, Ekowa J, Fatai K. (2026). Parental perceptions of children's physical activity participation: An exploration of satisfaction, school-based engagement, barriers to participation and preferred strategies for improvement.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0351523