Paper Presentation XI:
Gender, Sports and Generation – Children and Elderly People
Monday, April 12, 10.00–13.00

Glen Nielsen
Dept of Sport and Exercise Science, Universoty of Copenhagen

This paper presents the results of a quantitative study of 6-11 year old schoolchildren’s daily physical activities with a focus on gender differences. The study is based on two datasets of accelerometer measures, combined with surveys focusing on the socio-demographic background, sport interests, skills and activities of the children and their parents. These data are analyzed to identify factors influencing physical activity and sports participation. The use of accelerometer data allows more forms of physical activity to be included and gives a more objective picture of the activity rates. The results of this study show that the gender difference in total amount of physical activity is small at age 6 but increases by age 10, with girls being less active especially in self-organized physical activities. Boys and girls differ on a range of interests and preferences of relevance to physical activity however the gender difference in the amount of activity is mainly explained by boys more often playing soccer enabling them to be physically active in many settings for self-organized activity such as school recess and after school daycare. The paper points towards some practical solutions for creating more equal opportunities for being physically active in children’s everyday settings for self organized activity.