Topic 2 – Social, cultural and environmental
enablers and barriers to movement.
Including: family, peers, socioeconomic status,
level of education, cultural values, geographic
location and access to families
KEY KNOWLEDGE
❖Social, cultural land environmental enablers and
barriers to movement such as family, peers,
socioeconomic status, level of education, cultural
values, geographic location and access to
facilities.
❖Identify and explain the influences or
determinants that affect physical activity in either
a positive (enabler) or negative (barrier) way
KEY SKILLS
❖Identify and describe the social, cultural and
environmental influences on physical education
See Think Wonder - What do you
know?
See - Look at the following images
Think - What factors may affect the physical
activity levels for the individuals in the image?
How does each factor affect the level of physical
activity?
Wonder – What else do I need/ want to know?
Grouping factors according to the ‘Socioecological model’ of physical activity (Salmon & King:2005)
Enablers and barriers to physical
activity
An enabler - Things that promote and encourage
participation in movement or physical activity
It has a positive effect on one’s physical activity
behaviour or outcome of movement.
A barrier - Factors that block or impeded
participation in physical activity
It has a negative effect on one’s physical activity
behaviour or outcome of movement.
Enablers and barriers to physical
activity
❖There are a range of factors
that influence people to
participate in physical activity…
❖Social factors –including income, education, gender,
family, coaches and peers
❖Cultural factors – including ethnicity and cultural
norms
❖Environmental factors (including the natural/ built
physical environment, access to facilities, safety,
weather and geographic location)
❖Individual factors (including age, gender and
self-efficacy)
Social factors
Of, or relating to the interaction of social and
cultural elements such as family, peers, coaches,
teachers, community support, gender,
socio-economic status (income, education &
occupation), cultural beliefs and traditions.
Cultural factors
Cultural factors, such as cultural norms, values,
linguistic considerations and social structure may
affect participation in physical activity.
Environmental factors
The physical environment can also influence
participation
-Access to facilities, aesthetics, safety and weather.
-Natural environment refers to water (beaches, rivers,
lakes), snow fields, trees, grasslands and bushlands etc
-Built environment refers to infrastructure created such as
playgrounds, buildings, layout of communities,
transportation, cycling paths, recreational centres,
-Geographic location – position of the area / facility
Individual factors
There are a number of individual factors
-Age
-Sex
-Gender
-Genetic or inherited factors
-Self efficacy – cognitive variables such as confidence in
your own ability to be active within specific circumstances
(eg: when you are tired)
Sample question
Identify and outline one example for each of the
following influences on movement/ physical activity:
social, cultural and environmental. (6 marks)
Sample response (1 mark – naming factor & 1 mark – accurate use of
example to outline factor as an enabler or barrier to participation in physical
activity)
Social factor (peers) — A person is more likely to be active if their
friends are active. The positive influence of a person’s friends and
the fact that they are also active will provide a person with
greater opportunities to be active.
Cultural factor (cultural norms) — Generally, Australians value
physical activity and sport. Therefore, if a person wants to be
active they are encouraged to do so and will have more
opportunities because there are fewer barriers to participation.
Environmental factor (weather) — A person may be less active in
winter. The increased rainfall makes it more difficult to go for a
bike ride or a run because of discomfort, inconvenience of
changing clothes and lack of motivation. This will reduce the
person’s opportunities to be active and as a result the amount of
physical activity that they participate in.