Social and Cultural Factors Related to Women's Participation in Sports

(A Field Study on a Sample of Female Members of Sports Clubs in Jeddah Governorate)

Abstract

   This study explored social and cultural motivators for women’s participation in sports clubs, and examined the effects of sports on their physical and mental well-being. It also sought to uncover the challenges women face when engaging in sports activities within clubs. The study reached the following results: Among the prominent social factors that motivated the sample to join sports clubs was the increased community interest in health and fitness, with an average score of 3.76. Additionally, the provision of safe and suitable environments in women's sports clubs was noted, with an average score of 3.75, along with the motivation of spending leisure time, which averaged 3.64. As for cultural factors, the most notable was the increased awareness among women regarding the importance of sports as a lifestyle, with an average score of 4.29, followed by the promotion of values of discipline and commitment to a healthy lifestyle (average score of 4.11), and the positive influence of social media (average score of 4.03). The results also revealed that one of the most significant physical and psychological effects of engaging in sports was the feeling of happiness, with an average score of 4.37, followed by the enhancement of mental health (average score of 4.35), and the strengthening of the body and prevention of disease (average score of 4.24). Furthermore, the results indicated that the sample faced some challenges, including the difficulty of balancing sports practice with other responsibilities (average score of 3.98), high membership fees in women's clubs (average score of 3.96), and a shortage of qualified women in management and coaching roles within clubs (average score of 3.84). Based on these findings, the study concluded with several recommendations, including expanding the opening of women's sports clubs while reducing membership fees to enable more women to engage in sports, activating social programs within these clubs, and focusing on training and preparing qualified Saudi women to assume training and administrative responsibilities in women's sports clubs.