Adults In Flanders Research Articles

Is de actieve sportbeoefening in Vlaanderen gedemocratiseerd?: over de sociale gelaagdheid van de sportdeelname gedurende de periode 1969-1999

This article provides substantial empirical evidence that significant social differences exist in sport involvement in Flanders. A 30-year follow-up study of social stratification in sports was carried out to find out (i) if sports participation in Flanders is still socially stratified, and (ii) if social changes occur in the status sport pyramid over the years of investigation. Based upon the socio-educational status, the socio-professional status and the socio-geographical status of male and female adults in Flanders a social stratification pyramid in sports was set up for 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1999. Although the amount of sports participation from 1969 until 1999 has increased for each socio-professional status, a significant difference persists between the high and the low professional levels (x2 test for trend - 85.90; p<0.0001; df=1). The 1999 social sport pyramid continues to be socially stratified, and therefore confirms that sports participation still depends on socio-professional status.

The meaning of grandparents as viewed by adolescent grandchildren: an empirical study in Belgium.

Why do adolescents value their grandparents? This was the leading question of an investigation among 563 adolescents and young adults in Flanders (Belgium). The Grandparent Meaning Scale which probes eleven a priori dimensions of meaning, was completed by 147 early adolescents (M = 12.5 years), 175 middle adolescents (M = 15.7 years), and 241 late adolescents (M = 18.9 years). Results show that adolescents generally find their grandparents important and feel close to them. Grandparents are valued primarily because they provide affection, reassurance of worth, and reliable alliance. Relational-affective and caregiving meanings were assigned more often to grandmothers whereas advising, teaching, and narrative roles were ascribed more frequently to grandfathers. Maternal grandparents were generally perceived as more important and closer than paternal grandparents. Early adolescents assigned more importance and meaning to their grandparents than middle and late adolescents. There were no differences between grandsons and granddaughters.