Breaking the barrier: exercise preferences and motivational factors in stressed Chinese secondary school students

This study explores the motivations, barriers, and exercise preferences among Chinese secondary school students experiencing psychological stress. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 adolescent students, and a deductive analysis was employed to identify key themes related to their exercise behaviors. To ensure objectivity and minimize bias, data were triangulated.

The findings revealed seven motivational themes driving exercise participation, health benefits, external encouragement and supervision, body shaping, personal inspiration, academic performance, enjoyment, and prior exercise experiences. Conversely, five key barriers were identified: academic pressure, negative exercise experiences, lack of motivation, illness, and adverse weather conditions. Participants generally preferred moderate to vigorous group-based exercises lasting 30 to 60 min, 3–5 times per week.

Gender differences emerged in both barriers and motivations: girls were more likely to forgo exercise due to academic demands, while boys cited illness as a primary obstacle. Additionally, girls reported needing more external encouragement to engage in exercise, whereas boys required greater personal inspiration. These insights can inform the design of targeted exercise programs to effectively reduce stress in this population.

Thanks to our young participants for offering their inner thoughts without reservation! The authors received no funding for this research project. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Li Hao, Mahadir Ahmadd & Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin Nan Hang Secondary School, Jiang Su, China Correspondence to Li Hao or Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin.

The authors declare no competing interests. The interview and methodology for this study were approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) (Approval No. JEP-2024-544) and received an official Ethic approval letter on 30 September 2024.

Prior to data collection, researchers provided participants with a detailed explanation of the study’s purpose and procedures. The informed consent process strictly follows these procedures: First, the research team distributes paper copies of the parental informed consent form—detailing the study’s purpose, procedures, potential risks, confidentiality commitments, and voluntary participation terms—to all potential student participants through school channels. Students bring this document home for their parents to read and sign to confirm consent.