INFLUENCING FACTORS OF SPORT ACTIVITIES AMONG THE EU’S POPULATION BASED ON THE EUROBAROMETER 2018

Abstract

Background. The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between demographic, sociocultural, socioeconomic and sports infrastructural factors affecting the frequency of regular sports activity among the adult population in the European Union, with the help of an individual-level research. Material and methods. The data analyzed are from the Special Eurobarometer 472 Sport and Physical Activity survey, conducted in 2017. All respondents (n=28,031) were over 15 years of age and resident in one of the 28 EU member states. Descriptive statistical methods, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression model were used in the analysis. Results. Regular sports activity was significantly influenced by demographic factors (age and gender), quality of life factors (health status and life satisfaction) and sports infrastructural factors from the 12 factors included in the regression model. The sports habits of adults living in the EU are also significantly influenced by sociocultural, as well as socioeconomic factors. Conclusions. This paper highlights that social, cultural and economic structures, as well as the infrastructural factors of sport played a key role in shaping the sports habits of the EU adult population in 2017.