The Potential of Existing Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Surveys to Support the Commonwealth Games 2014 Legacy Evaluation

3. SPORTS PARTICIPATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Introduction

3.1 The legacy evaluation document states that the 2014 Games should present an opportunity to 'inspire Scots both young and old to become - and stay - physically active'. There are two main ways in which physical activity levels can be improved. First, it is hoped that there will be a 'demonstration effect' whereby those who currently participate in sport, or have done in the past, feel encouraged to do so more frequently. Second, those who are currently sedentary may be encouraged to take up physical activity or sport through a 'festival effect'; a feeling of celebration garnered by the event that goes beyond simply sport.

3.2 However, the evidence shows that these are not easy goals to achieve^{[9] [10]}. It is not enough for individuals to engage with the Games and become inspired by the sporting activity, as this only tends to have a short term impact. This short term effect must be backed by the development of sporting facilities and link into long term programmes to encourage physical activity.

3.3 To this end, the sporting legacy of the 2014 Games has been aligned with Scotland's Physical Activity Strategy, Let's Make Scotland More Active. Key programmes which have been put in place include: providing high quality sporting facilities across Scotland, such as the development of Community Sports Hubs, better co-ordination of physical activity policy at a local and national level and clearer communication to educate the public on the benefits of physical activity.

3.4 The key research questions that the Legacy Evaluation will address are:

• Are sustained changes in physical activity and sports participation evident among particular groups?
• Is there evidence for a 'demonstration effect' among those already, or recently, physically active?
• Is there evidence of a 'festival effect' among those who are currently sedentary?

Levels of physical activity and sports participation among particular groups

3.5 GLEWG has already conducted analysis on several key measures in relation to sports and physical activity for Report 1. The analysis has been drawn from two surveys: the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) and the Scottish Household Survey (SHS).

3.6 The key measures from the SHeS look at the percentage of both adults and children who meet the recommended levels of physical activity^[11]. In 2011, 39% of adults and 73% of children met the recommended guidelines. The survey also looks at the percentage of respondents that report low levels of physical activity^[12]: 32% of adults and 10% of children. A further indicator drawn from the SHeS is the proportion of children participating in sport in the previous week (69% in 2011).

3.7 The SHS measures the percentage of adult respondents who participate in different sports in the last 4 weeks. In 2011, 54% of adults had participated in sport in the last 4 weeks with swimming (18%), keep fit/aerobics (14%) and multigym/weight training (12%) reported most frequently.

3.8 The rest of this chapter sets out baseline findings from Understanding Society and the Life Opportunities Survey, additional data sources not used in Report 1. For the most part the relevant measures contained within these surveys are not comparable with those from the SHeS and the SHS. However, the SHS does provide one measure for which comparisons can be made with the Understanding Society data: active travel to and from work. The data for this comparison is contained within the body of the discussion below (see paragraph 3.26).

3.9 In the 2010 wave of Understanding Society, respondents were asked if they had taken part in 14 different moderate intensity sports in the last 12 months. More than half (59%) of the Scottish sample had undertaken at least one of the activities. The most common was swimming or diving, with almost a third of respondents (32%) reporting they had undertaken this activity (Table 3.1).

Table 3.1. Moderate intensity sporting activities done in the last 12 months, Scotland, 2010

Any participation	59%
Swimming or diving	32%
Health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities (including aerobics, keep-fit classes, weight-training or weight-lifting)	28%
Cycling, BMX or mountain biking (for sport or recreation)	18%
Jogging, cross-country, road-running	14%
Hill trekking, backpacking, climbing or mountaineering	13%
Golf (including pitch and putt)	11%
Football (including 5 or 6-a-side)	10%
Water sports, including yachting, dinghy sailing, canoeing, rowing, windsurfing, water-skiing etc.	6%
Martial arts (including tai chi, taekwondo, karate and judo)	2%
Horse riding	2%
Gymnastics	1%
Rugby (Union or League) or American Football	1%
Track and field athletics	1%
Boxing	1%
Nothing of this kind	41%
N (unweighted)	2,682

Source: Understanding Society

3.10 The next most common activities included health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities (28%) and cycling, BMX, or mountain biking (18%). Less common activities were: jogging, cross-country or road-running (14%); hill trekking, backpacking, climbing or mountaineering (13%); golf (11%); and football (10%). Fewer than one in ten respondents reported participating in any of the other sports listed.

3.11 Respondents were also asked about their participation in a list of another 15 moderate intensity sports. The sports in the second list were less popular than those in the first; just over a quarter of the Scottish sample reported that they had undertaken at least one of these (Table 3.2).

3.12 Racquet sports were the most common activity, mentioned by almost one in ten (9%), followed by angling or fishing (6%) and ice-skating (5%). The remaining activities were undertaken by fewer than 5%.

Table 3.2. Other moderate intensity sporting activities done in the last 12 months, Scotland, 2010

Any participation	26%
Racquet sports such as table tennis, tennis, badminton or squash	9%
Angling or Fishing	6%
Ice-skating	5%
Ski-ing (on snow, or an artificial surface: on slopes or grass)	4%
Basketball	3%
Baseball, softball or rounders	2%
Motor sports	2%
Netball	1%
Volleyball	1%
Cricket	1%
Hockey (exclude ice, roller or street hockey but include in 'other')	1%
Other sporting activity	4%
Nothing of this kind	74%
N (unweighted)	2,673

Source: Understanding Society

3.13 The intensity of four sporting activities was classified differently dependent on the respondent's age. For those aged 65 and over, bowls, archery, croquet and yoga/Pilates were classified as moderate intensity, while for younger respondents they were classified as mild intensity. Table 3.3 shows the proportion of Scottish respondents aged 65 and over who had participated in these activities in the last 12 months.

Table 3.3. Moderate intensity sporting activities done in the last 12 months by those aged 65 and over, Scotland, 2010

Bowls (indoors or outdoors) {if Age > 64}	9%
Yoga or Pilates {if Age > 64}	2%
Archery {if Age > 64}	*
Croquet {if Age > 64}	*
N (unweighted)	543

Source: Understanding Society

3.14 Those who had participated in at least one moderate intensity sport in the last 12 months (from either of the two lists) were asked how frequently they played sports. Just over half of Scottish respondents participated in sporting activities at least once a week (54%), with a further fifth doing so at least once a month (21%) (Table 3.4).

3.15 One restriction of the survey is that it only collects the overall frequency of sporting activities and does not enable the frequency of each individual activity to be examined. Consequently, the results in Table 3.4 will primarily reflect the frequency of the most common sporting activities: swimming or diving, and health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities.

Table 3.4. Frequency of moderate intensity sports, Scotland 2010

3+ times a week	22%
1-3 times a week	32%
At least once a month	21%
At least 3 - 4 times a yr	16%
Twice in past year	6%
Once in past year	3%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	1,715

Source: Understanding Society

3.16 In addition to moderate sporting activities, Understanding Society also looked at participation in mild intensity activities. Respondents were again given a list of activities and asked if they had undertaken any of these in the last 12 months. Just over half of Scottish respondents had participated in at least one of the activities (Table 3.5).

3.17 3.17 The most common activity was rambling or walking for pleasure or recreation, with a third participating in this pastime (33%). Leisure activities such as snooker, pool or billiards (21%), ten-pin bowling (18%) and darts (12%) were the next most common.

Table 3.5. Mild intensity sporting activities done in the last 12 months, Scotland, 2010

Any participation	55%
Rambling, walking for pleasure or recreation	33%
Snooker, pool or billiards	21%
Ten-pin bowling	18%
Darts	12%
Shooting	3%
Nothing of this kind	45%
N (unweighted)	2,682

Source: Understanding Society

3.18 Yoga/Pilates, bowls, archery and croquet were not particularly common among Scottish respondents aged 64 or less. Less than one in ten participated in each of these activities in the last 12 months (Table 3.6).

Table 3.6. Mild intensity sporting activities done in the last 12 months by those aged 64 or less, Scotland, 2010

Yoga or Pilates {if Age < 65}	8%
Bowls (indoors or outdoors) {if Age < 65}	4%
Archery {if Age < 65}	2%
Croquet {if Age < 65}	*
N (unweighted)	2,130

Source: Understanding Society

3.19 Respondents who had participated in some form of mild sporting activity in the last 12 months were asked how often they had done so.

3.20 Thirty-nine per cent of the Scottish sample had participated in an activity at least once a week, while a further 25% had done so at least once a month. Thirty-six per cent had participated in an activity less often (Table 3.7).

Table 3.7. Frequency of mild intensity sports, Scotland, 2010

3+ times a week	15%
1-3 times a week	24%
At least once a month	25%
At least 3 - 4 times a year	22%
Twice in past year	9%
Once in past year	5%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	1,511

Source: Understanding Society

3.21 The Understanding Society respondents were also asked to indicate, on a scale of 1 to 10, how active they were through sport, with 1 defined as 'doing no sport at all' and 10, 'very active through sport'. Overall Scottish respondents tended to rank themselves in the lower half of the scale with two-thirds rating themselves 1-5 and a third 6-10 (Figure 3.1).

3.22 Around one in ten respondents ranked themselves as doing no sport at all, while only 4% rated themselves as very active through sport.

Figure 3.1. Figure 3.1 Ranking of level of activity through sport, Scotland, 2010

Source: Understanding Society

3.23 The accessibility of sports and leisure facilities did not seem to be a factor restricting Scottish respondents' participation in activities to any great extent. The vast majority (83%) reported that it was either very easy or easy for them to get to a sporting or leisure facility and only 8% said that it was very difficult or difficult (Table 3.8).

Table 3.8. Perceptions of ease of accessing sporting or leisure facilities, Scotland, 2010

Very difficult	3%
Difficult	5%
Not difficult nor easy	8%
Easy	40%
Very easy	43%
Does not apply	2%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	2,679

Source: Understanding Society

3.24 Only a very small proportion of respondents found it very difficult or difficult to access sporting and leisure facilities, but those that did were asked what made it difficult. The most common response was health reasons or a disability, with over a third (37%) of respondents mentioning this, followed by a lack of facilities in the area (30%) and not having access to a car (23%). Personal safety concerns when travelling (2%), a lack of information on public transport (1%) and doing fitness at home/not needing to go to sporting or leisure facilities (0%) were least likely to make it difficult for respondents to access sporting and leisure facilities. These results must be interpreted with caution due to the small base size (Table 3.9).

Table 3.9. Factors that make it difficult to access to sporting and leisure facilities, Scotland, 2010

Health reasons or disability	37%
Lack of facilities in the area	30%
No access to car	23%
Lack of time due to family or work commitments	20%
Can't afford costs (including travel costs)	18%
I don't want to participate in sports and leisure activities	16%
No public transport available	14%
Public transport is infrequent or unreliable	12%
Can't physically access public transport that is available	5%
Facilities not available at suitable times	4%
No-one to play sport or do activity with	3%
Personal safety concerns when travelling	2%
Lack of information on available public transport	1%
Does fitness at home/no need to go	-
Other reason	3%
N (unweighted)	194*

Source: Understanding Society

*Small base size, please interpret with caution

3.25 The Understanding Society respondents were also asked if they have walked continuously for at least 10 minutes in the last 4 weeks. The vast majority (84%) of Scottish respondents had done so, with only 15% not having walked continuously for this amount of time (Table 3.10).

Table 3.10. Whether respondent walked at least 10 minutes in the last 4 weeks, Scotland, 2010

Yes	84%
No	15%
Can't walk	1%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	2,680

Source: Understanding Society

3.26 Those respondents who had walked continuously for at least 10 minutes in the last 4 weeks were asked on how many days they had managed to do this. Forty-three per cent of respondents had walked for at least 10 minutes every day in the last 4 weeks. However, 26% had done so on less than 10 days (Table 3.11).

Table 3.11. Number of days walked at least 10 minutes in the last 4 weeks, Scotland, 2010

Every day	43%
19 to 27 days	16%
10 to 18 days	15%
1 to 9 days	26%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	2,251

Source: Understanding Society

3.27 Understanding Society also asked respondents how they usually travel to work. The majority (68%) reported that they usually drive to work by car or van. Active forms of travel were much less common, with 16% walking to work and only 3% cycling (Table 3.12). These figures are broadly in line with the most recently published figures from the SHS (2011): 13% of respondents in that survey walked to work and 2% cycled.

Table 3.12. Main method of travel to work, Scotland, 2010

Drive myself by car or van	58%
Walk	16%
Bus/coach	11%
Get a lift with someone from household	4%
Train	4%
Cycle	3%
Get a lift with someone outside the household	2%
Other	1%
Motorcycle/moped/scooter	-
Taxi/minicab	-
Underground/metro/tram/light railway	-
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	1,358

Source: Understanding Society

3.28 Understanding Society also included a self-completion questionnaire for young people (aged 10-15 years). This questionnaire too included a number of items on physical activity; the first of which asked about the types of exercise in which respondents had participated. Walking was by far the most common exercise mentioned, with nearly three-quarters (72%) of Scottish young people reporting that they did this. Cycling (50%), jogging or running (48%), football (43%) and swimming or diving (43%) were also popular activities, while martial arts (7%), horse riding (7%) and cricket (3%) were notably less so. All of these results should be interpreted with caution, however, as the question did not contain a reference period (Table 3.13).

Table 3.13. Exercise in which young people participate, Scotland, 2010

Walking, including walking the dog	72%
Cycling	50%
Jogging or running	48%
Football	43%
Swimming or diving	43%
Tennis, squash or badminton	23%
Netball, basketball or hockey	23%
Dance	23%
Keep fit, aerobics or gym training	18%
Athletics	15%
Gymnastics	10%
Rugby	8%
Martial Arts	7%
Horse riding	7%
Cricket	3%
Don't know	1%
Other type of sport or activity	19%
N (unweighted)	246

Source: Understanding Society

3.29 Young respondents in Understanding Society were also asked about the frequency with which they undertook sport, aerobics or other physical activity. Just over a fifth (22%) of the Scottish sample said they exercise every day of the week, while a total of 70% said they did so on between 1 and 6 days a week. Only 2% reported that they never or hardly ever did any physical activity (Table 3.14).

Table 3.14. Frequency of sport, aerobics or other physical activity among young people, Scotland, 2010

Every day	22%
5-6 days	21%
3-4 days	30%
1-2 days	19%
Less than once a week	5%
Never or hardly ever	2%
Don't know	1%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	246

Source: Understanding Society

3.30 Young respondents were also asked about their main mode of travel to school. Nearly half walked to school (47%); a greater proportion than used any other type of travel. The next most common methods of travel were by bus or tube (23%) and by car (17%). Cycling was much less common, with only 1% mentioning they travelled to school in this way (Table 3.15).

Table 3.15. Usual method of travel to school among young people, Scotland, 2010

Walk all the way	47%
By bus or tube	23%
By car	17%
By train	2%
Ride a bike	1%
Some other way/combination	5%
Don't know	5%
Total	100%
N (unweighted)	246

Source: Understanding Society

3.31 A small number of questions on sports participation were also included in the Life Opportunities Survey. The first wave of the study was conducted between 2009 and 2011.

3.32 The Life Opportunities Survey is a longitudinal survey that focuses on participation in society in a number of areas, including education and training, employment, transport, leisure, social and cultural activities, and social contact among both disabled and non-disabled individuals. It is potentially a very useful source of information to address questions related to sport and disability.

3.33 Respondents in the survey were presented with a list of activities, including sport, and asked: firstly, if they would be interested in doing these activities in an ideal world; and secondly, whether they had done as much of each activity as they would have liked in the last 12 months. Two-fifths of Scottish respondents indicated that they would be interested in doing sport, although the figure was appreciably lower among those with an impairment than those without one (29% compared with 44%, respectively) (Table 3.16).

Table 3.16. Interest in doing sport in an ideal world, Scotland 2009-2011

	Respondents with no impairment	Respondents with an impairment	All
Interested in doing sport	44%	29%	40%
Not interested in doing sport	56%	71%	60%
Total	100%	100%	100%
N (unweighted)	1,952	854	2,806

Source: Life Opportunities Survey

3.34 Overall, 80% of respondents in Scotland said that they had not done as much sport as they would have liked. Ninety percent of those with an impairment said that they had not done as much sport as they would of liked in the last 12 months and 75% of those without an impairment said the same (Table 3.17).

Table 3.17. Participation in as much sport as would like in the last 12 months, Scotland 2009-2011

	Respondent has no impairment	Respondent has any impairment	All
Yes	25%	10%	20%
No	75%	90%	80%
Total	100%	100%	100%
N (unweighted)	1,952	854	2,806

Source: Life Opportunities Survey

3.35 The Life Opportunities Survey also presented respondents with a list of different buildings and facilities, including leisure or sport centres, and asked how much difficulty they had at each in the last 12 months. Overwhelmingly, Scottish respondents reported having no difficulty accessing leisure or sports centres: 97% of respondents with no impairment and 91% of respondents with an impairment said this (Table 3.18).

Table 3.18. Difficulty in accessing leisure or sports centres, Scotland 2009-2011

	Respondents with no impairments	Respondents with an impairment	All
No difficulty	97%	91%	96%
Some difficulty	2%	5%	3%
A lot of difficulty	1%	4%	1%
Total	100%	100%	100%
N (unweighted)	581	165	746

Source: Life Opportunities Survey

Conclusions

3.36 The Scottish Health Survey and Understanding Society are both robust sources of Scotland-wide data on levels of participation in sport and physical activity. While Understanding Society has the advantage of providing longitudinal data - for adults and young people, the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) collects much more detailed information on multiple measures of sports participation. The SHeS has greater scope for capturing data related to all kinds of physical activity and includes more in-depth follow up questions, such as the amount of time spent doing each sport and whether the respondents got out of breath while undertaking the activity. However, Understanding Society predominantly focuses on sports and only asks respondents about the overall frequency with which they participate in sporting activities. As previously noted, this limits the analysis that can be conducted as it does not enable the frequency of individual activities to be examined. A further benefit of the SHeS data is that it asks about participation in the last 4 weeks (and is collected throughout the year), as opposed to Understanding Society which asks about the last 12 months. Due to the shorter timeframe the information will be more salient to the respondent which means that it will elicit a more accurate answer. For these reasons we would suggest that the SHeS is a better measure of participation in sport, as well as other forms of physical activity.

3.37 Questions in Understanding Society on travel to work overlap to a degree with those in the SHS. Again, both provide a robust Scotland-wide measure on respondents' usual method of travel. However, the SHS asks follow up questions about the reason why that form of travel is used. In order to be able to examine whether the Commonwealth Games has encouraged more active forms of travel to and from work, it is vital that we have data on respondents' motivation. This would suggest that the SHS question is a better measure.

3.38 Although the Life Opportunities Survey does not provide overall measures of sports participation among the general public, it does provides very specific information about the ability of those with a disability or impairment to access leisure or sports centres, which is helpful in establishing whether sporting facilities are open to all.

3.39 In order to evaluate the Games legacy on levels of sports participation, we would suggest that additional questions be added to the SHeS and Understanding Society examining the motivations behind sports participation and levels of engagement with the Commonwealth Games.

3.40 At the Glasgow and East End level, robust cross-sectional data on sports participation is available for adults and young people from the SHeS and GoWell, respectively.