Are the Italian people more oriented to sport, to exercise, or to an armchair? Changes in the exercise patterns and in the health-related lifestyles in the years 1995-2006

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA E POLITICHE SOCIALI
Author/s Stefano Martelli
Publishing Year 2010 Issue 2010/2 Language Italian
Pages 43 P. 29-71 File size 412 KB
DOI 10.3280/SP2010-002003
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Using the most trustworthy data, collected by national surveys in the years 1995-2006, this paper outlines a general framework for understanding the Italian people’s choices in matters of sport, exercise and health. The size and the socio-demographic outlines of three groups - sporting people (30,2%), people who exercise (28,4%), and sedentary people (41%) - are presented and their distribution at the national and regional levels is clarified. By a factor analysis, four groups were identified on the basis of their motivation to participate in sport: health fans; members of sporting clubs for hedonistic reasons; members who join clubs to make relationships; and a residual group. Moreover, this paper tries to study the link between sport and health choices. In Italy one can distinguish six life styles: three healthy lifestyles and three less healthy or even dangerous. This general framework provides a useful basis for developing and implementing social policies in matters of sport, exercise and health in Italy.

Keywords: Sport, Exercise, Sedentary People, Social Politics, Health Life Style.

Stefano Martelli, Sedentari, sportivi o fisicamente attivi? Le pratiche fisico-motorie degli italiani e gli stili di vita salutistici nel periodo 1995-2006 in "SOCIOLOGIA E POLITICHE SOCIALI" 2/2010, pp 29-71, DOI: 10.3280/SP2010-002003