SynthesisPrevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research2022
Motivational Factors and Barriers Towards Initiating and Maintaining Strength Training in Women: a Systematic Review and Meta-synthesis.
Synthesis in Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
35 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 76 citations in OpenAlex.
- Women's Experiences of Gender-Based Interpersonal Violence in Sport: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.Trauma, violence & abuse · 2024Pooled it
- Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally Adapted Intervention to Promote Resistance Exercise in Young Black Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Trial
- Effects of short-term resistance training plus whole-body neuromuscular electrical stimulation on blood cardiometabolic biomarkers in sedentary middle-aged women: a parallel-group, randomized trial.BMC women's health · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Changes in physical activity outcomes in the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities (SHHC-2.0) community-based randomized trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2022Trial
- Improvements and Maintenance of Clinical and Functional Measures Among Rural Women: Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities-2. 0 Cluster Randomized Trial.Circulation. Cardiovascular quality and outcomes · 2022Trial
- Public Engagement to Inform Messaging Aligning With the Muscle-Strengthening Guidelines.Clinical and public health guidelines · 2026Article
- Co-designing a culturally appropriate mHealth physical activity intervention for midlife women experiencing menopause in Saudi Arabia: stakeholder recommendations.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Exercise motivation patterns in emerging adults: dual roles of weight and shape concern in activation and inhibition pathways.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- How women engage in muscle-strengthening exercises: a qualitative study from the WISH project.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Supporting the health of working women in midlife: co-designing and testing the acceptability of a digital exercise programme.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Generational and gendered perceptions of weightlifting: a cross-sectional survey.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Sex Differences in Resistance Training Participation and Beliefs Among Adolescent Athletes: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- A 10-Year Analysis of Resistance Training-Related Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments: Are Patterns Shifting With More Participation of Women Over Time?Journal of strength and conditioning research · 2026Article
- Effectiveness and acceptability of exercise treatments for adults with anxiety disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2026Article
- Psychosocial transformation in women new to fitness: a phenomenological study on body image, self-confidence, and identity construction.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Article
- What Do We Know About Prevention of Frailty in Women?American journal of lifestyle medicine · 2025Review
- Autistic Young Adults' Experiences and Recommendations for Strength Training.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025Article
- The chain mediating effect of emotional regulation ability and exercise persistence on college students' sleep and cardiopulmonary endurance.Scientific reports · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Strength training (ST) or resistance training is important in the development and maintenance of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health in women of all ages; however, uptake of ST amongst women is low. To improve female musculoskeletal health, it is vital that more women are encouraged to participate in ST to maintain musculoskeletal integrity. This systematic review aimed to identify motivators and barriers to women initiating and maintaining ST. Following protocol registration and systematic search, studies were included if they were primary qualitative or mixed-method studies reporting participant verbatim quotes, included adult women, and focused on motivators and barriers for ST. Searches generated 2534 articles from 3 databases, with 20 studies (N = 402 participants) meeting eligibility criteria. Participant quotes and authors' interpretations were analysed using thematic synthesis. The most frequently observed barriers were gender-based stigmas, discouragement, and negative comments, particularly in women currently engaging in ST. Other factors associated with poor adherence included boredom, poor knowledge of ST, poor gym accessibility, lack of supervision or routine, and difficulty in balancing work and family life. Social support from friends and family, words of affirmation, and accompaniment facilitated ST, particularly in older women. Women who saw expected results such as weight loss were motivated to continue ST. Interventions aimed at increasing participation in ST amongst women should focus on the specific benefits valued by women and the dissemination of accurate information to counter misconceptions and increase knowledge. The adaptation of gym environments to make them more welcoming to women, and reduce gender-focused criticism, is especially important.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.