Abstract
Inequality in sport and physical activity has become
a significant focus of interest in sports policy, especially
since the mid-2010s following the reforms of the Sports
Act and the Equality Act. Physical activity is important
for the well-being of children and adolescents, and
leisure activities can be interpreted as a fundamental
social and cultural right. This study addresses
inequality in physical activity by examining how the
family’s economic situation is related to children’s and
adolescents’ physical activity and sports participation.
We based our study on Göran Therborn’s (2014)
conceptual analysis of inequality, which highlights
three dimensions of inequality: existential, material
resources, and vital inequality. The family’s economic
situation was examined using FAS-III variables, which
are used in the international HBSC study. Sport and
physical activity was studied through, first, the amount
of physical activity and second, in terms of involvement
in different physical activity contexts: leisure club
activities, sports club activities, private sector services,
and self-organised physical activity. The data is drawn
from the national study on ‘Children’s and Adolescents’
Physical Activity Behavior in Finland’ (LIITU study),
with 7209 respondents from grades 3 to 9. The
association between the family’s economic situation and
physical activity and sports participation was examined
statistically.
The results indicate that the family’s economic
situation is related to both the amount of physical
activity and participation in clubs, sports clubs, private
sector services, and self-organised physical activity, with
the highest level of physical activity and participation
observed among children in the highest economic
group. Therefore, sports policy should pay more
attention to issues of economic inequality.
Keywords: inequality, economic status, children,
physical activity, sports participation, sports policy
a significant focus of interest in sports policy, especially
since the mid-2010s following the reforms of the Sports
Act and the Equality Act. Physical activity is important
for the well-being of children and adolescents, and
leisure activities can be interpreted as a fundamental
social and cultural right. This study addresses
inequality in physical activity by examining how the
family’s economic situation is related to children’s and
adolescents’ physical activity and sports participation.
We based our study on Göran Therborn’s (2014)
conceptual analysis of inequality, which highlights
three dimensions of inequality: existential, material
resources, and vital inequality. The family’s economic
situation was examined using FAS-III variables, which
are used in the international HBSC study. Sport and
physical activity was studied through, first, the amount
of physical activity and second, in terms of involvement
in different physical activity contexts: leisure club
activities, sports club activities, private sector services,
and self-organised physical activity. The data is drawn
from the national study on ‘Children’s and Adolescents’
Physical Activity Behavior in Finland’ (LIITU study),
with 7209 respondents from grades 3 to 9. The
association between the family’s economic situation and
physical activity and sports participation was examined
statistically.
The results indicate that the family’s economic
situation is related to both the amount of physical
activity and participation in clubs, sports clubs, private
sector services, and self-organised physical activity, with
the highest level of physical activity and participation
observed among children in the highest economic
group. Therefore, sports policy should pay more
attention to issues of economic inequality.
Keywords: inequality, economic status, children,
physical activity, sports participation, sports policy
| Translated title of the contribution | Inequality in sport and physical activity. Association of family economic situation with children’s and young people’s physical activity and sports participation |
|---|---|
| Original language | Finnish |
| Pages (from-to) | 317-329 |
| Journal | Yhteiskuntapolitiikka |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2025 |
| Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Publication forum classification
- Publication forum level 2
