'You know they don't want you there': a qualitative study examining barriers and facilitators to physical activity among Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland.

Authors

Lewis King, Sarah Mulligan, Stephen McNally

Published in

BMJ open. Volume 16. Issue 9. Pages e115173. Sep 29, 2026. Epub Sep 29, 2026.

Abstract

Addressing the health and well-being of ethnic minority groups in Ireland is an ongoing priority for policymakers. Traveller and Roma communities experience pronounced health inequities that restrict opportunities for physical activity (PA) and exercise. This study aimed to examine the key barriers and facilitators shaping PA and exercise engagement among Traveller and Roma individuals in Ireland.
Community-based in Ireland.
Interview and focus group-based qualitative study guided by the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) model and Theoretical Domains Framework.
Participants reported key barriers to PA and exercise included: social influences (eg, discrimination, a lack of representation in PA and exercise environments, family or peer discouragement); environmental context and resources (eg, exclusion and access to facilities, a lack of facilities, finances, competing priorities); social/professional role and identity (eg, cultural identity conflict, gender roles) and knowledge (eg, lack of knowledge on what PA/exercise is, limited understanding of guidelines, language and/or literacy barriers). Facilitators included: environmental context and resources (eg, affordable, locally accessible facilities, mobile or satellite services helped overcome logistical barriers); social/professional role and identity (eg, culturally sensitive, gender-specific activities) and knowledge (eg, targeted health education and community workshops).
This study identified interconnected barriers and facilitators influencing PA participation among Traveller and Roma communities, including low health literacy, cultural norms, financial constraints and experiences of exclusion, alongside strong community bonds and culturally relevant programming. Mapping these findings onto the COM-B model and Theoretical Domains Framework showed that behaviour change requires addressing individual capabilities, social and environmental opportunities and motivational factors. Co-designed, culturally safe and peer-supported programmes, supported by targeted outreach and structural barrier reduction, are essential to fostering sustained engagement and reducing health inequalities.

PMID:
42810808
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Sep 2026.

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