Challenges of Physical Activity of Iranian Women in Different Stages of Life

Today, the importance of physical activity for women's health in various dimensions has become more apparent, but in different countries, there are many different challenges for the continuous physical activity of women at different stages of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify, categorize and investigate the impact of Iranian women's physical activity challenges in different stages of life.

The research method was Grounded Theory, systematic approach. Sampling was theoretical. Data analysis was performed through continuous "questioning" and "comparison". In order to achieve saturation while reviewing specialized texts, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 136 Iranian women aged 7-78 who regularly participated in physical activities in addition to 17 mothers and 6 fathers.

The findings showed that managerial-economic problems in the secondary childhood, socio-cultural and managerial-economic problems in the adolescence, socio-cultural problems in the youth, the least problems in the middle age, and personal problems in the aging have the most negative impact on physical activity of Iranian women.

Many challenges have caused the physical activity of Iranian women to fluctuate sharply at different stages of life but the most important decline in Iranian women's physical activity occurs at the beginning of adolescence. According to the research findings, the researchers and sports managers who are responsible for studying and planing in order to develop physical activity of Iranian women should pay special attention to the challenges in each stage of their lives.