Associations Between Socioeconomic Status and Perceived Barriers to Leisure-Time Physical Activity Across Stages of Behavior Change Among Young and Middle-Aged Japanese Adults

The present study examined how perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) differed by socioeconomic status (SES) (household income, years of education, and occupation), considering the relationships among barriers and distinguishing between barriers to initiation and maintenance. In this study, 2024 nationwide survey data from 27 197 (13 634 women and 13 563 men) Japanese adults aged 18 to 64 years were analyzed. The key findings are as follows. The types of perceived barriers were classified into “health issues,” “lack of time,” “dislike/hassle,” and so on. “Health issues” was negatively associated with household income and years of education. With respect to the barriers to initiating LTPA, years of education was negatively associated with “dislike/hassle,” whereas higher education increased the likelihood of “lack of time” as a barrier to adhering to LTPA. In addition, lower economic status was associated with maintenance-stage barriers among women, underscoring the need for promotion strategies tailored to both SES and LTPA stages.