Motivation and Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity Among Lithuanian Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Regular physical activity is important for students’ health and well-being, but participation may be influenced by motivation and perceived barriers. This study assessed physical activity levels, motivational regulation, perceived barriers, and their associations among students enrolled in Lithuanian higher education institutions. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 370 students. The questionnaire assessed weekly physical activity, motivational regulation, perceived barriers, and sociodemographic characteristics. Group comparisons and exploratory hierarchical multivariable logistic regression were performed. Results: Overall, 74.6% of the participants met the World Health Organization physical activity recommendations. In separate analyses, male participants and those from major cities were more likely to meet the World Health Organization physical activity recommendations. Intrinsic and identified regulation were the most prominent motivational factors, whereas lack of energy, lack of willpower, and lack of time were the most frequently reported barriers. In the final model, higher intrinsic regulation was associated with greater odds of meeting the recommendations (odds ratio 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.10–2.44), while lack of willpower (odds ratio 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.19–0.60) and lack of time (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.18–0.68) were associated with lower odds. Sociodemographic characteristics were not statistically significant in the final model. Conclusions: Most participants in this sample met the World Health Organization physical activity recommendations. The findings highlight the relevance of intrinsic regulation and selected perceived barriers to physical activity participation. These exploratory associations may help guide future longitudinal and intervention research on context-specific physical activity promotion in higher education.