# Voices in Motion: Using I-Poems to Uncover Undergraduate University Students’ Psychosocial Journey and Physical Activity Behaviours

## TL;DR

This study explores how undergraduate students in South Africa experience physical activity through creative storytelling, revealing psychosocial factors that influence their behavior.

## Contribution

The study introduces I-poems as a novel qualitative method to amplify students’ voices in understanding physical activity experiences.

## Key findings

- I-poems revealed themes like mental health, motivation, and social support in students' physical activity journeys.
- The method provided authentic insights into students' psychosocial experiences of physical activity.
- Findings suggest psychosocial factors are crucial for designing student-tailored physical activity interventions.

## Abstract

Physical inactivity is a pervasive global public health concern, yet there is limited qualitative research exploring the psychosocial dimensions of physical activity (PA) among undergraduate students at a South African university. Therefore, this study aimed to explore students’ PA participation, by providing insights into the psychosocial factors that shape their experiences. Interviews were conducted with 18 undergraduate university students between July and August 2023. I-poems, a creative qualitative method, were created from interview transcripts by isolating sentences featuring the pronoun “I” and arranging them into poetic stanzas without altering their sequence. This approach amplifies the participants’ voices, offering an authentic window into their lived experiences. Data was coded using the Atlas Ti v.8 software and thematically analysed to generate common themes. The I-poems revealed rich, layered insights from students regarding the psychosocial aspects of PA, highlighting themes such as mental health, motivation and social support. By centring the participants’ “I” narratives, the method foregrounded their voices, enabling a deeper exploration of their embodied PA experiences. This study highlights the potential of I-poems as a creative qualitative method to explore the intricacies of students’ PA journeys. The findings highlight the importance of considering psychosocial factors in understanding PA engagement, offering valuable subjective perspectives for designing contextually relevant and university student-tailored interventions that are suitable.