MODULATING EFFECT OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS IN PREDICTING SPORT PRACTICE AND THE USE OF SPORTS FACILITIES

Abstract

This paper aims to test the moderator effect of some demographic characteristics of the users of sports facilities (sex, age, and size of the town where they live) in the relationships of satisfaction with the use of sports-facilities, attitudes toward sports, location of the facility, and time consumed to reach the facility with their sports behaviors (frequency of sport practice and frequency of the facility use). Results indicate that several demographic aspects (young users, women, and subjects who live in very big or very small towns) hampe sport practice and positive attitudes toward sports. In those groups, location of the sport facility is a more important determinant of their sports behavior than for the rest of users. In addition, attitudes towards sports are more important for the subjects who live in very big or very small towns than for users who live in medium-size towns. Finally, in young users and women, satisfaction with the use of sports facilities is a more important determinant of sports practice than for the rest of users.