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CHAPTER THREE AGE DIFFERENCES
3.1 The biggest differences in participation relate to age - which is closely linked with health. The sections below discuss age differences in relation to participation, reasons for exercising, reasons for not exercising, views on exercising more often, encouraging people to exercise more and attitudes to sport and physical activity. The following chapters (on differences relating to deprivation levels, gender differences and urban/rural differences) follow the same structure.
Participation
3.2 Age best predicts participation in sport, exercise or physical activity. The proportions in each age-group who exercise several times a week are:
- 50% of those aged 16-24
- 36% of those aged 25-34
- 38% of those aged 35-44
- 32% of 45-59 year olds
- 34% of 60 to 74 year olds
- 20% of those aged 75 and over.
3.3 There is a considerable drop in the proportion participating between those in the 16-24 range and those in the 25-34 and 35-44 ranges.
3.4 The data suggests that a proportion of young people reduce activity levels around their mid to late twenties and that older people's exercise levels drop significantly from around their mid seventies. 25 The oldest group are, not surprisingly, the least likely to exercise several times a week with only 20% doing so. Two-thirds of this group (64%) never exercise.
Figure 11: Taking part in sport and exercise by age
How often do you take part in sport, exercise or any physical activities these days?
Base: All (2,077), 16-24 (179), 25-34 (257), 35-44 (394), 45-59 (541), 60-74 (454), 75+ (252)
3.5 In terms of how well established exercise habits are among those who exercise several times a week, only one in fifty of those aged 65 and over said they had been exercising this regularly for less than a year (compared with one in 12 of the younger respondents). Clearly, if people are not already exercising regularly by the time they are aged 65, they are very unlikely to start!
Reasons for exercising
3.6 The oldest group (those aged 65+) were comparatively less likely than younger people to be exercising to keep fit, relieve stress/relax, keep in shape/toned or lose weight and more likely to be taking part because they enjoy the social side (43% compared with 32% overall) or because it helps with an injury/disability (18% compared with 11% overall).
3.7 Those aged 35-44 were the most likely to be exercising in order to lose weight (43% compared with 34% overall). This group, and those aged 25-44 were also the most likely to be participating in order to accompany children (22% compared with 14% overall).
Reasons for not exercising
3.8 People in different age groups have quite distinct reasons for not exercising. This is illustrated in Figure 12 below, which shows the reasons given for not exercising by the 'always inactive' and the 'previously inactive' in different age groups 26.
3.9 Lack of time is the biggest factor for the three younger age groups (16-34, 35-44 and 45-59) and particularly for those aged 35-44. It is much less of an issue for those aged over 60. Conversely, the proportion for whom health is a barrier increases steadily with age and is by far the main issue affecting those aged 75 plus.
3.10 The availability and accessibility of facilities is most likely to impact on the participation of those aged 16-34. This group is also most likely to be affected by motivational issues.
Figure 12: 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: All 'always inactive' and 'previously inactive' (783), 16-34 (87), 35-44 (126), 45-59 (199), 60-74 (191), 75+ (180).
Views on exercising more often
3.11 Among those who did not already exercise several times a week, those in the younger age bands (aged 16-24, 25-35 and 35-44) were the most likely to say that they wanted to exercise more and intended to do so in the next 30 days. The oldest age groups were more likely to indicate that they did not want to exercise more: 58% of 60-74 year olds and 72% of those aged 75 or over did not want to exercise more, compared with only 24% of younger respondents.
Figure 13: Views on exercising more often by age (% of respondents)
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), 16-24 (102), 25-34 (159), 35-44 (244), 45-59 (353), 60-74 (295), 75+ (208).
Encouraging people to exercise more
3.12 As discussed above, different age groups have quite distinct reasons for not exercising. Strategies to increase participation among different groups therefore need to be focused on the main barriers affecting that group (e.g. time barriers for those aged under 60 and health barriers for those aged over 60).
3.13 In terms of preferences for changes which might be made, the main differences between age groups were that few of the oldest respondents (aged 65+) were concerned about fitting it in around their usual routine (only 4% mentioned this compared with 41% overall) - this is unsurprising given that lack of time was not a barrier for them. The oldest respondents were also less interested in cheaper admission prices (9% mentioned this compared with 38% overall) or cheaper facilities (9% compared with the 27%). This could be because of concessionary pricing for older people or a lack of familiarity with the cost of private gyms and sports clubs.
3.14 Reflecting the age of their children, those aged 25-44 were much more likely than other groups to mention children's programmes running parallel to adult programmes (20% of those aged 25-34 and 31% of those aged 35-44 mentioned this) and crèche/childcare (29% of those aged 25-34 and 15% of those aged 35-44).
3.15 The youngest group (aged 16-24) were much more likely to want:
- information on what is available (41% compared with 27% overall)
- people to go with (52% compared with 24% overall)
- advice on where to start (32% compared with 18% overall).
Attitudes towards sport and physical activity
3.16 Attitudes towards sport and physical activity - as measured by agreement with the various statements - were very similar across the age groups.
3.17 The main differences were that:
- younger respondents were more likely to agree that they enjoy the competitive side of sport (67% of 16-24 year olds and 59% of 25-34 year olds agreed compared with 55% overall).
- older respondents were less likely to strongly agree that being physically active gives you more energy: 66% of 55-64 year olds and 58% of those aged 65 plus strongly agreed with this statement compared with 71% overall
- similarly, fewer of the oldest respondents strongly agreed that being physically active is good for your mental health (77% of 55-64 year olds and 73% of those aged 65 plus strongly agreed compared with 82% overall).
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