IS SPORT AND EXERCISE PARTICIPATION RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLICY FACTORS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CROATIA? A CROSS-SECTIONAL POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Authors

  • Anja Maria Jukić University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Fran Žganec Brajša University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Danijel Jurakić University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia

Keywords:

physical activity promotion, public health, motor activity, correlates, physical inactivity

Abstract

Physical activity is a complex behaviour influenced by individual, social, environmental, and policy factors. Understanding these factors of specific populations is a prerequisite for effective public health interventions. The main aim of this study was to determine the relationship between participation in sports, exercise, and other physical activities and the perception of environmental and policy correlates of physical activity in Croatia. The sample consisted of 1031 randomly selected Croatian citizens and data were collected within the “Special Eurobarometer 472” using questions about: a) participation in sport, exercise, and other physical activities and b) the environmental and policy factors of physical activity including opportunities for engaging in physical activities, the offer of sports clubs, and level of the support from local authorities. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that people who perceived their local sports clubs and other service providers as offering more opportunities and those who felt that their local government supported physical activity were more likely to be actively involved in sports and exercise (p<.05 for all). Furthermore, the perception of greater opportunities for physical activity in the local environment is associated with increased involvement in recreational physical activities that are not related to sports (p<.05). Future strategies aiming at encouraging citizens to engage in sports and exercise should be based on strengthening cooperation between local authorities and local sports clubs, while the promotion of other physical activities should incorporate providing adequate infrastructure for engaging in physical activities and informing citizens about the provided opportunities.

Key words: physical inactivity, motor activity, correlates, policy impact, environmental influences, exercise engagement

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Published

2023-12-31

How to Cite

Jukić, A. M., Žganec Brajša, F., & Jurakić, D. (2023). IS SPORT AND EXERCISE PARTICIPATION RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLICY FACTORS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CROATIA? A CROSS-SECTIONAL POPULATION-BASED STUDY. Kinesiology, 55(2), 213–221. Retrieved from https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/kinesiology/article/view/24949

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Articles

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