A study of the relationship between social economical status and sports participation

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to find out the relationship between social economical status and sports participation. The sample consisted of 200 subjects, randomly selected from secondary schools within Haryana State, took part in the study. The sample consisted of 100 boys and 100 girls students, who had represented their schools in district level sports competition during the academic year 2015. A self made questionnaire of SES was used for collecting data. The questionnaire sought students background information (i.e., demographic data and sports in which participated), and parental social economical status. Resulting data were analyzed manually, and presented using descriptive methods of percentages, tables, and figures. Findings of this study shows that students had parental SES as 20%, 37% and 43% as upper, middle, and lower classes respectively. The most popular sport among upper and middle class boys was cricket while kabbadi was the most popular sports of lower economic class boys and Girls. Girls of upper and middle economic classes had badminton and basketball as the most popular sports. Findings further show that participation in sports among boys and girls in the two types of schools, private and government. For girls in government schools, Kabbadi was very popular, with badminton being most popular in private schools. Cricket was the most popular sport for boys in the two school types.