Physical activity facilitates the acquisition of healthy habits from childhood to adulthood. Differences exist regarding the performance of physical activity among immigrant children compared to native Spanish children. The purpose of the study was to describe the barriers that exist for the promotion of physical activity. A qualitative case-study approach was implemented. Parents of immigrant children, teachers, a school principal, and priests were included, using purposeful sampling. Data were collected from 25 participants, via unstructured and semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and researchers’ field notes. A thematic analysis was performed and ecological levels were identified. Our findings revealed the following barriers to performing physical activity: (a) the meaning of physical activity, (b) gender inequalities, (c) academic burden, (d) lack of social contact, (e) expenses and family economy, (f) lack of infrastructure and natural surroundings, (g) time constraints, (h) fear and insecurity, and (i) the reason for immigrating. These results may be used to revise the school curriculum, promoting equal opportunities for physical activity and encouraging family participation. Additionally, urban design policies should be encouraged to facilitate access to open spaces for recreation within cities.

Physical activity facilitates the acquisition of healthy habits from childhood to adulthood. There are differences in the practice of physical activity between immigrant children and native Spanish children. The aim was to describe physical activity in children, from the perspective of South American immigrant parents. A qualitative case study was conducted. Parents were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected from 12 participants by means of unstructured interviews together with researcher notes. A thematic analysis was applied. The following topics were identified: (a) physical activity and health, (b) socialization, (c) the need for movement, (d) gender, (e) barriers, (f) educational burden, (g) community living, and (h) reason for immigrating. Parents described how physical activity is fundamental and has benefits for health, and for the relationship between children. They perceived that physical activity should not be limited by gender. The time dedicated to other school activities, the norms related to community living, and financial limitations were especially relevant as barriers for the performance of physical activity. These results can be used to revise the curriculum in schools, promote equal opportunities for physical activity and support family participation.

Physical activity (PA) contributes to the development of children and adolescents and to their mental and physical health. The practice of PA in the school context can contribute towards generating a more inclusive educational community for immigrant children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to describe the perspectives of Spanish physical education (PE) teachers on the practice of PA among immigrant children and adolescents. This research was a qualitative exploratory study. A purposeful sampling strategy was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and field notes. Twenty teachers were recruited. An inductive thematic analysis and content analysis were applied. The following topics were identified: (a) Professional expectations; (b) Economic resources; (c) Integration; (d) Family; (e) Religious beliefs and practices; and (f) Gender difference. A predominance of positive emotions was identified in the narratives, and the most repeated words in word clouds were ‘Caribbean’, ‘Latin’, and ‘population’. These findings help to identify PA barriers for immigrant children and adolescents and may contribute to the creation of PA-based interventions in social and educational contexts.

This study aimed to describe the perspectives of people with severe mental disorders who volunteer regarding the relationship between volunteering and work, from the framework of personal recovery. A qualitative phenomenological study was undertaken. Purposive sampling was conducted on people with severe mental disorders who participated in volunteering. In-depth unstructured and semi-structured interviews were used, during which researchers took handwritten field notes. An inductive thematic analysis was applied. Twenty-three participants with severe mental disorders were included (16 men and 7 women) with a mean age of 47 years. Three themes emerged: (a) the relationship between volunteering and working; (b) thinking about a possible future job; and (c) disclosing a mental health condition. Volunteering is perceived as a substitute to working, although not all participants feel able to work, and they do not always disclose that they suffer from a mental health condition.