CHAPTER TWO OVERVIEW OF PARTICIPATION AND ATTITUDES
Participation levels
2.1 Respondents were asked how often they took part in sport, exercise or any physical activity. They were reminded to include activities like cycling, dancing, fishing, bowling, yoga etc. and to include walking if they walked for more than around 2 miles, or 40 minutes at a time 13. The results are shown in Figure 1 below.
2.2 A third (35%) of respondents indicated that they exercise several times a week. These findings are broadly in line with the results from the 2003 Scottish Health Survey, which found that 38% of the adult population are meeting the recommended activity levels of 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days. 1415
2.3 Given that experts suggest 30 minutes activity on most days, findings show that the majority of people, 65%, are not exercising enough: 27% exercise just once or twice a week, 7% just once or twice a month, 9% less often than once a month and 22% never exercise.
Figure 1: Frequency of participation in sport, exercise and physical activity
How often do you take part in sport, exercise or any physical activities these days?
Base: All (2,077)
Factors linked with participation levels
2.4 There are clear demographic differences between those who exercise regularly and those who do not.
2.5 Participation is higher among the following groups:
- younger people
- men
- those living in the least deprived areas 16
- those in higher income households.
2.6 The group most likely to participate are urban 16-24 year olds, in single adult or student households. The group least likely to participate are those aged over 75 in the more deprived areas.
2.7 Differences in participation relating to age, deprivation and gender are explored in more detail in Chapters 3 to 6.
How well established are exercise habits?11
2.8 Given that half of the fieldwork took place in January and February, there was a possibility that there was a "New Year's Resolution Effect", or, more generally, that the levels of exercise reported are inflated by there being a proportion of people who go through phases of exercising more regularly and then dropping out. The research was designed in two waves to reduce this potential impact. That being said, in both waves of fieldwork, almost all (92%) of those who said they exercised several times a week indicated that they had been doing so for at least a year. This indicates that respondents' exercise habits were well-established.
Reasons for exercising
2.9 Those who exercise at least weekly were asked their main reasons for doing so. Health reasons are the most common. Eighty four per cent of respondents cited at least one of the following benefits: keeping fit, keeping in shape/toned, losing weight or helping with an injury/disability. Mental health is also an important reason with almost half (45%) exercising to relieve stress or relax.
2.10 Most people are also exercising because it is enjoyable: 73% say one of their main reasons for exercising is that they enjoy some aspect (they simply 'enjoy it', they enjoy the social side/meeting people or they enjoy the competition). See Figure 2 below.
Figure 2: Reasons for exercising
These days, what are your main reasons for taking part in sport, exercise or any physical activity?
Base: All those who take part in sport, exercise or physical activity at least once a week (1,241)
Why do most people not exercise enough?
2.11 Given the health benefits and the enjoyment experienced by those who exercise regularly, it is important to understand why most people don't exercise enough.
2.12 Those who are currently inactive, or have been inactive in the past, can be divided into three behavioural sub-groups of the sample:
- 'Always inactive' refers to those who exercise less than monthly and have been inactive since leaving school. This group were asked why they rarely/never exercise.
- 'Previously active' refers to those who exercise less than weekly but who indicated that they used to exercise much more. This group were asked why they stopped/reduced their activity.
- ' Currently active' people are those who do exercise at least weekly, but went through a time when they used to exercise much less. They were asked the reasons for that.
2.13 The reasons given 17 were grouped into four broad categories, relating to:
- time constraints
- health or ageing
- motivation, attitude or encouragement
- availability or accessibility of facilities.
Time
2.14 For all three behavioural sub-groups, lack of time 18 was one of the biggest factors - and was overwhelmingly the main reason given by the 'currently active' for why they had gone through a phase of being less active. The 'always inactive' who said they were 'too busy' or 'too tired' were asked the main reasons for that:
- 57% said it was because of work
- 43% indicated that it was because of looking after children
- 18% said it was housework
- 9% said it was other caring responsibilities
2.15 In total, 54% indicated that they were 'too busy' or 'too tired' because of some caring responsibility (looking after children, housework or 'other' caring responsibility).
Health
2.16 Health 19 was also a big factor for those who were 'always inactive' and, particularly, the 'previously active'. Most of the 'always inactive' and the 'previously active' who cited health reasons for not exercising gave only health reasons, suggesting that was the overriding problem. Health reasons were much less of a factor for the 'currently active' and half of those who did cite health reasons also gave other reasons for dropping out of exercise for a time.
Motivation
2.17 Motivational reasons 20 affected almost a third of those who were 'always inactive', but fewer of the 'previously active' and the 'currently active'.
Availability/Accessibility of Facilities
2.18 The availability/accessibility of facilities 21 were cited by a third of the 'currently active' as reasons why they stopped exercising for a while, but by relatively few of the 'always inactive' and the 'previously active'.
Figure 3: Reasons for not exercising (% of respondents)
Grouping and Question
'Always inactive': You said that you rarely/never take part in sport, exercise or physical activity these days. Why is that?
'Previously inactive': Why did you stop/reduce your activity?
'Currently active': You said there was a time in the past when you took part in sport, exercise or physical activity much less than you do now. Why was that?
Base:
'Always in active': those who exercise less then monthly and have been inactive since leaving school (257);
'Previously active': those who exercise less than weekly but who used to exercise much more (527);
'Currently active': those who exercise at least weekly but used to exercise much less (486)
Views on exercising more often
2.19 The 'Stage of Change' model of behavioural change 22 is based on the theory that individuals move through five stages in the process of changing their behaviour:
- pre-contemplation (no consideration of changing)
- contemplation (thinking about changing)
- preparation (making plans to change)
- action (actually in the process of changing)
- maintenance (working to prevent relapse).
2.20 For those who are not currently exercising several times a week, the model was used to identify which of the first three stages they were at. Respondents were asked how they felt about taking part in sport, exercise or physical activity more often than they do now and were given response options of 'I would like to, and I intend to do so in the next 30 days', 'I would like to, and I intend to do so in the next 6 months', 'I would like to, but probably not in the next 6 months' and 'I do not want to'. The results are shown in Figure 5 below.
2.21 Key findings were as follows:
- 16% intend to start exercising more in the next 30 days (i.e. they are at the 'preparation' stage)
- 20% intend to do so in the next six months (at the contemplation stage).
- 21% say they would like to at some point but probably not in the next six months (which suggests they are also at the 'contemplation' stage and may have personalised the problem but are not yet ready to take action)
- 36% say that they do not want to exercise more (i.e. they are at the 'pre-contemplation' stage).
Figure 5: Views on exercising more often
How do you feel about taking part in sport, exercise or physical activity more often than you do now?
Base: All those who exercise less than several times a week (1,340)
2.22 Most (61%) of those who never exercise say they do not want to exercise more, and few of this group are making plans to change in the next 30 days or the next 6 months. Conversely, those who are already exercising once or twice a week are the most likely to say they would like to exercise more and intend to do so in the next 30 days. See Figure 6 below.
Figure 6: Views on exercising more often by current levels of exercise (% of respondents)
How do you feel about taking part in sport, exercise or physical activity more often than you do now?
Base: Never (506), less than once a month (176), once or twice a month (151), once or twice a week (528)
2.23 Similarly, the 'previously active' group are more likely to want to start exercising again or exercise more than those who were 'always inactive'. See Figure 7 below.
Figure 7: Views on exercising more often by whether 'always inactive' or 'previously active' (% of respondents)
How do you feel about taking part in sport, exercise or physical activity more often than you do now?
Base: 'Always inactive' (255), 'previously active' (528)
Encouraging people to exercise more
2.24 What might be done to help or encourage those who want to exercise more? For around half of those who want to exercise more (i.e. the 'always inactive' and the 'previously active') we have their reasons for not exercising 23- see Figure 8 below. The results suggest that efforts to help/encourage this group to exercise more should be focused on the fact they feel that they do not have time to exercise and, to a lesser extent, on the health problems which create barriers to participation.
Figure 8: Reasons for not exercising (% of respondents)
Grouping and Question
'Always inactive' - You said that you rarely/never take part in sport, exercise or physical activity these days. Why is that?
'Previously inactive' - Why did you stop/reduce your activity?
Base: The 'always inactive' and the 'previously active' who would like to exercise more (335)
2.25 All of those who said they would like to exercise more were given a list of possible changes and asked which would make a big difference to them. The responses are shown in Figure 9 below. Many of the possible changes related in some way to facilities (e.g. cheaper admission prices, cheaper facilities, longer opening hours, better equipment/playing facilities). However, given that lack of time is the biggest barrier to participation, it is perhaps not surprising that the most popular change was 'if I could fit it in around my usual routine'. This was mentioned by 41% of respondents.
2.26 Large proportions wanted cheaper admission prices (38%) and cheaper facilities (27%), despite the fact that cost was not one of the main reasons given for not exercising. Overall, 44% mentioned cheaper admission and/or cheaper facilities. This suggests that, to a certain extent, people were selecting changes that they felt would be desirable, rather than things that would necessarily make a big difference to their participation. This should be borne in mind when interpreting the results. It should also be noted that those on lower incomes and those in more deprived areas were no more likely to mention cheaper admission or facilities as changes which might encourage them to participate (see section on Deprivation below).
2.27 Information on what is available was wanted by 27% and similar numbers wanted help to get motivated (26%) and people to go with (24%).
2.28 The quality of facilities was not a major issue for most people: only 14% selected 'better equipment/playing facilities' and 13% wanted 'better facilities e.g. café, changing rooms'.
Figure 9: What might encourage people to exercise more (% of respondents)
Here is a list of things which might help people to take part in sport, exercise or physical activity more often. Which things would help make a big difference to YOU?
Base: All those who exercise less than several times a week but would like to exercise more (731)
2.29 Those who had been able to increase their activity were asked why they had started to exercise more. The most common reasons related to motivation for exercising again, and were to get fitter and/or lose weight (58%) but the change that made the biggest difference in enabling them to do so was having more time. In total, 47% indicated that they 'had more free time' and/or 'family circumstances changed (e.g. children were older, fewer responsibilities)'. A fifth (22%) said that they 'found something they enjoyed'.
Attitudes towards sport and physical activity
2.30 In order to gauge attitudes to sport and physical activity, respondents were given a number of statements and asked how much they agreed or disagreed with each. The results are shown in Figure 10 below.
Figure 10: Attitudes towards sport and exercise (% of respondents agreeing with statements)
How much do you PERSONALLY agree or disagree with the following statements?
Base: Exercise once a week or more (1,291), exercise less than once a week (783)
2.31 A quarter of respondents (24%) agreed that "when I hear the word 'sport' I turn off". Those who exercised at least once a week were less likely to agree with this than those who exercised less often. However, a fifth (19%) of those that exercised at least once a week still agreed that they turn off when sport is mentioned - which suggests that they have found other ways to be active.
2.32 Over half (55%) of respondents enjoy the competitive side of sport. Those that exercise at least once a week are more likely to agree than those who exercise less often or never, but this difference is not great. Presumably many people are referring here to enjoying sport as a spectator.
2.33 The vast majority of the sample agreed that being "physically active gives you more energy" (94% overall). Those who exercise more than once a week were more likely to agree but 90% of those who never exercise still agreed.
2.34 A large proportion thought that being physically active was enjoyable (91%). Although slightly fewer of those who exercise less than once a week agreed with this, 84% still thought so.
2.35 Very similar proportions thought being physically active was good for physical health (97%) and mental health (96%). However, slightly more people strongly agreed that it was good for physical health (82% compared with 76% who strongly agreed it was good for mental health).
2.36 Overall, then, attitudes towards physical activity are very positive with the vast majority of respondents appreciating the physical and mental health benefits and agreeing that it is enjoyable to be physically active. This suggests that efforts to increase participation are best focused on making it easier for people - such as advising on how exercise can be fitted in to the daily routine - rather than persuading them of the benefits, a battle that has already been won.
2.37 That being said, people living in the most deprived areas seem slightly less convinced of the benefits (see the chapter on Deprivation below) so health communications targeted at these areas may be worthwhile.
2.38 There are clear demographic differences between those who exercise regularly and those who do not: participation is higher among younger people, those living in the least deprived areas and men. Differences relating to age are discussed in Chapter 3 below. Differences relating to deprivation levels and gender are discussed in Chapters 4 and 5 respectively. There are few urban/rural differences but these are also discussed briefly in Chapter 6 24.