Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41620730›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2026

Barriers and facilitators to structured, out-of-school physical activity participation among rural youth in the United States: a systematic review.

Ashleigh M Johnson, Tyler Prochnow, Zachary Townsend, Carissa R Smock, Cassandra M Beattie, Lora Peterson, M Renée Umstattd Meyer, Christopher D Pfledderer

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ashleigh M JohnsonSchool of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA. ajohnson12@sdsu.edu.
Tyler ProchnowSchool of Public Health, Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell St., College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
Zachary TownsendSchool of Health Sciences, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD, 21801-6860, USA.
Carissa R SmockDepartment of Leadership, Management, and Human Capital, School of Business and Economics, National University, 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA.
Cassandra M BeattieInstitute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, Texas A&M Agrilife, 578 John Kimbrough Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843-2147, USA.
Lora PetersonNational University, 9388 Lightwave Ave, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA.
M Renée Umstattd MeyerDepartment of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Humans Sciences, Baylor University, 1311 S 5th St, Waco, TX, 76706, USA.
Christopher D PfleddererSchool of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, 1836 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 510, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.

Funding

Development and feasibility testing of a Boys & Girls Clubs' sports intervention to promote physical activity in rural girls: Girls PLAYK01HL171860 · NHLBI · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI Ashleigh Marie Johnson · 2024 to 2026
$433k
NHLBI NIH HHS K01 HL171860NIH HHS K01HL171860-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBarriers to physical activity (PA) participation affect United States (US) youth’s ability to meet PA guidelines. There is evidence showing lower PA among rural versus urban youth due to fewer PA opportunities and resources. Out-of-school programs can help reduce geographic disparities in PA, but there is a dearth of literature on participation factors among rural youth. This study aimed to identify, describe, and synthesize peer-review literature on barriers and facilitators to participation in structured, out-of-school PA at multiple ecological levels for rural-dwelling, US youth.

methodsA systematic review was conducted November 2024 using Medline, PubMed, SPORTDISC, Web of Science, APA Psychinfo, and CINAHL for articles published 2000–2024. Articles needed to be (1) peer-reviewed; (2) English-language; (3) conducted among US rural populations; (4) examining barriers and/or facilitators to out-of-school, structured PA; and (5) conducted among youth ages 6–17. Articles focusing on participants with additional needs were excluded.

resultsA search of 3,070 articles was refined to a final sample of 39 articles. Participant factors were identified at multiple ecological levels, including environmental and program (programs and facilities, transportation and accessibility, resources and infrastructure, safety, cost/fees); social (family support and role models, peer support, lack of social support); and individual (interest, motivation, and enjoyment; skill development; time constraints and prioritization) levels.

conclusionsRural youth participation in structured, out-of-school PA is informed by multi-level factors, including facilities and programs, transportation, resources and infrastructure, social support, and interest/motivation. Additional research is needed to examine participation factors among this population. Findings can be used to design and adapt out-of-school programs that meet the unique needs of youth in rural settings.

Indexed as

ExerciseRural PopulationAdolescentChildHumansUnited StatesEcological modelGeographic disparitiesPhysical activitySystematic reviewYouth

Identifiers

PMID41620730
PMCPMC12947335

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.