“Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey
Abstract Background Worldwide, it is of public health concern that the majority of children and adolescents fail to meet physical activity guidelines. Evidence shows a positive association between socioeconomic status (SES) and levels of physical activity. Socioeconomic health inequalities are persi...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22180-x |
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| author | S. Maria O’Kane Roisin McCafferty Alison M. Gallagher Marie H. Murphy Ciara Fitzpatrick Angela Carlin |
| author_facet | S. Maria O’Kane Roisin McCafferty Alison M. Gallagher Marie H. Murphy Ciara Fitzpatrick Angela Carlin |
| author_sort | S. Maria O’Kane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Worldwide, it is of public health concern that the majority of children and adolescents fail to meet physical activity guidelines. Evidence shows a positive association between socioeconomic status (SES) and levels of physical activity. Socioeconomic health inequalities are persistent and the socioeconomic gap in physical activity may be exacerbated during periods of economic downturn such as the current cost-of-living crisis affecting many countries globally. This study aimed to understand the perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on access to sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents. Methods Parents/guardians (aged > 18 years) resident in Northern Ireland (NI) were invited to participate in an online survey (March–June 2024) which assessed SES, parental support for physical activity and the perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on access to sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents. Thematic (qualitative data) and statistical analysis (quantitative data) was undertaken. Results In total, 855 parents/guardians completed the survey. The majority of parents/guardians (85%) agreed that sport and physical activity were important for their children to manage stress, however, 30% were unable to afford the equipment and clothing that their children needed to participate in sport/physical activity. More than a third of parents/guardians (35%) had reduced spending on sport and physical activity for their children since the onset of the cost-of-living crisis. For 37% of parents/guardians, their children had missed out on sport/physical activity because of the costs involved and 24% of parents/guardians reported using credit or borrowing money to cover sport and physical activity costs. The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children varied by SES. A greater proportion of parents/guardians with lower SES reported reducing spending and borrowing money to cover sport/physical activity related costs. Conclusions Despite parental support for children’s sport and physical activity, cost was a barrier for many families. The ‘socioeconomic gap’ in physical activity and sports provision was evident and although establishing positive physical activity and sedentary behaviours during childhood is crucial, the cost-of-living crisis is likely to worsen the existing SES gap in physical activity and requires urgent intervention. Trial registration N/A. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6cb00e60181e4e388f15c0a5397cb7f7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6cb00e60181e4e388f15c0a5397cb7f72025-08-20T01:49:43ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125112510.1186/s12889-025-22180-x“Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional surveyS. Maria O’Kane0Roisin McCafferty1Alison M. Gallagher2Marie H. Murphy3Ciara Fitzpatrick4Angela Carlin5Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster UniversityInstitute of Nursing and Health Research, Ulster UniversityNutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster UniversityPhysical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC), Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, University of EdinburghSchool of Law, Ulster UniversityCentre for Exercise Medicine, Physical Activity and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, Ulster UniversityAbstract Background Worldwide, it is of public health concern that the majority of children and adolescents fail to meet physical activity guidelines. Evidence shows a positive association between socioeconomic status (SES) and levels of physical activity. Socioeconomic health inequalities are persistent and the socioeconomic gap in physical activity may be exacerbated during periods of economic downturn such as the current cost-of-living crisis affecting many countries globally. This study aimed to understand the perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on access to sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents. Methods Parents/guardians (aged > 18 years) resident in Northern Ireland (NI) were invited to participate in an online survey (March–June 2024) which assessed SES, parental support for physical activity and the perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on access to sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents. Thematic (qualitative data) and statistical analysis (quantitative data) was undertaken. Results In total, 855 parents/guardians completed the survey. The majority of parents/guardians (85%) agreed that sport and physical activity were important for their children to manage stress, however, 30% were unable to afford the equipment and clothing that their children needed to participate in sport/physical activity. More than a third of parents/guardians (35%) had reduced spending on sport and physical activity for their children since the onset of the cost-of-living crisis. For 37% of parents/guardians, their children had missed out on sport/physical activity because of the costs involved and 24% of parents/guardians reported using credit or borrowing money to cover sport and physical activity costs. The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children varied by SES. A greater proportion of parents/guardians with lower SES reported reducing spending and borrowing money to cover sport/physical activity related costs. Conclusions Despite parental support for children’s sport and physical activity, cost was a barrier for many families. The ‘socioeconomic gap’ in physical activity and sports provision was evident and although establishing positive physical activity and sedentary behaviours during childhood is crucial, the cost-of-living crisis is likely to worsen the existing SES gap in physical activity and requires urgent intervention. Trial registration N/A.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22180-xCost-of-livingSport; physical activityChildrenAdolescentsHealth |
| spellingShingle | S. Maria O’Kane Roisin McCafferty Alison M. Gallagher Marie H. Murphy Ciara Fitzpatrick Angela Carlin “Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey BMC Public Health Cost-of-living Sport; physical activity Children Adolescents Health |
| title | “Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | “Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | “Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | “Sport is NOT a luxury.” The perceived impact of the cost-of-living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI): A cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | sport is not a luxury the perceived impact of the cost of living crisis on sport and physical activity opportunities for children and adolescents in northern ireland ni a cross sectional survey |
| topic | Cost-of-living Sport; physical activity Children Adolescents Health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22180-x |
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