Socioeconomic position, life events, and sports participation: a moderation analysis of transitioning to the labor market, getting married or entering a new relationship, becoming a parent, and retiring

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is an important determinant of health, yet many people do not meet the PA recommendations of the World Health Organization. In addition, there are socioeconomic differences in PA and sports participation, with lower SEP groups showing lower levels of participation compared to their higher counterparts. While life events have been suggested as factors affecting PA and sports participation, their effect on the relationship between SEP and sports participation specifically remains understudied. This study aimed to resolve this gap by examining the effect of four life events on sports participation and the relationship between SEP and sports participation. Data from participants (15 – 79 years) of the 2018 Dutch NSO study (N = 2351) were used to analyze the moderating role of transitioning to the labor market, getting married or entering a new relationship, becoming a parent, and retiring on the relationship between SEP and sports participation. The findings reveal no moderation effects for life events on the relationship between SEP and sports participation, except for getting married or entering a relationship. In addition, this study found a positive effect of SEP and retiring on doing any sports, and negative effects of getting married or entering a relationship and becoming parents on sports frequency. These results stress the importance of interventions aimed at low SEP groups, and individuals who recently became parents, married or entered a new relationship. Future studies could focus on the effects of other life events on the sports participation of Dutch adults.