%L theses_frw4690
%D 2024
%T From Wallets to Whistle: Exploring the relationship between parental socio- economic status and their children's participation in organized sports, while also exploring whether these two factors are associated with the level of physical activity among children.
%A Anne Mombarg
%X Only slightly over half of all children between the ages of 4 and 12 in the Netherlands meet the physical activity guidelines. Child obesity carries many risks that could be mitigated with increased physical activity. Children who participate in organized sports tend to meet the physical activity guidelines. Participation in organized sports is greatly influenced by the socio-economic status (SES) of their parents. The relationship between physical activity of children and their parents SES have mixed findings. Moreover, conducting further research in various settings will provide a better understanding of how parental SES impacts the physical activity levels and participation in organized sports of their children.
This quantitative study examines the relationship between parental socio-economic status and their children's participation in organized sports, while also exploring whether these two factors are associated with the level of physical activity among children. Additionally, it examines the role of economic capital, material resources, and health knowledge in parental SES and their children's participation in organized sports. Data retrieved from a self-administered survey with parents having children aged between 4 and 12 as respondents is used in binomial logistic, linear, and multinomial logistic regressions. This data is utilized to assess the existence and direction of the relationship.
The results indicate that there is no relationship between parental SES and their children's participation in organized sports. Additionally, no relationship was found between parental SES, participation in organized sports, and the physical activity levels of their children. However, a positive relationship was found between physical activity and participation in sports associations among children. These contradictory findings in this sample, in comparison to previous research, may be attributed to the sample itself or other external factors. Therefore, a definitive conclusion regarding the relationship can not be drawn, and further research should be conducted to investigate these external factors more extensively.