The Role of Parent’s Participation in Sports on Change in Exercise Level: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Abstract

Abstract The family, which is one of the smallest units of the society, has the most important effect on a child’s life. It is known that parents are the initial examples for the child in many ways. This study primarily aims to compare the sports sciences students in Turkey and the United Kingdom in terms of their parents’ participation in sports. The sample consisted of 390 sports sciences students (201 in the UK and 189 in Turkey). The study was conducted with the cross-sectional screening model. The data were collected by the Exercise Stages of Change Questionnaire (ESOCQ) and analysed by Chi-Squared (χ2) test. Within the scope of the study, it was found that the sports sciences students in both countries were rather at the active stage of exercise stages of change in both countries, but the ratio of the students who actively participated in exercise in the UK was higher. The observations from the passive and preparation stages of the participation in exercises were examined and the frequency of the students in Turkey was higher compared to those in the UK. The rates of parent attendance in sports were also higher in the UK, and the active stage was on for the majority of these students from the exercise stages of change. In Turkey, the students whose parents do not attend sports have higher rates than those of the attending parents. In consideration of the sportive achievements, it is quite obvious that it is not enough simply to offer choices to children. Beyond that, another approach is required. The leading action to take can be participating in sports by themselves to become a model for their kids. Accordingly, it is essential that parents should be seen as a social support that may help them develop some new attitudes towards sports at their developmental ages.