Influences on a Healthy, Active Lifestyle
• There are a number of things that can influence
a persons participation in physical activity.
• These things can determine what sport a person
plays, what team they play for, where they play
OR even whether they play sport at all.
• There are 6 different categories of influences:
Cultural factors, People, Image, Resources,
Socio-economic, Health & Well-being
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Cultural Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that impact on daily
life and are often out of a person’s control. There are 4
different cultural factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
1. AGE
The age of person may influence their chances of participating in certain
activities.
Young People:
• Might be age limits for participation or joining of some clubs.
• Their age could restrict the amount of competitive physical activity they
are allowed to do.
• Schools offer regular physical activity in lessons as well as in extra
curricular clubs
Elderly People:
• May not be able to compete at their desired competitive level (due to
injury or loss of fitness).
• Very few competitive clubs for older people.
• More public and private health centres now run classes for older age
groups.
• Recent increase in the television coverage of senior sport competitions.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Cultural Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that impact on daily
life and are often out of a person’s control. There are 4
different cultural factors.
KEY:
2. RACE
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
Many ethnic minority groups enjoy taking part in
sport but often have a reduced opportunity to
participate.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
• Ethnic minorities who live in poor areas might have
no access to sporting facilities.
• Sporting prejudices exist that may cause
individuals/groups to not take part in specific
activities.
• People make take part in sports that are
traditionally performed by members of their
ethnic group.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Cultural Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that impact on daily
life and are often out of a person’s control. There are 4
different cultural factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
3. DISABILITY
If a person has a disability it could influence their chances of
participating in certain activities.
• The Sport for All campaign encourages people with
disabilities to take part in sport.
• Most sport facilities have good disabled access, as
lottery grants are often higher for those who ensure their
facilities are available to disabled people.
• Dedicated facilities can be used to offer specialist
disability sports.
• Young people with disabilities can sometimes find it
difficult to participate in sports with able-bodied people.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Cultural Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that impact on daily
life and are often out of a person’s control. There are 4
different cultural factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
4. GENDER
Some sports are associated with either men or women (men
play football/women play netball).
• More elite women role models should encourage more
girls to play sport.
• Traditionally, lots of opportunities for boys to play sport
(lots of clubs, facilities and coaches).
• Lack of opportunities and funding for certain women
sports.
• Pressure from peers (friends) may cause girls to not take
part in PE lessons.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
People Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to certain
people (both famous and not famous) affecting how someone
thinks about sport. There are 3 different people factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
1. FAMILY
Parents, relations and brothers/sisters can influence our
participation in physical activity.
• If family members play a certain sport you are more
likely to play that sport.
• If family are members of a certain sports club, you
are more likely to join that club.
• Parents often pay money for their children's sport.
• If family do not play/enjoy sport, it is more likely
that you will not play sport.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
People Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to certain
people (both famous and not famous) affecting how someone
thinks about sport. There are 3 different people factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
2. PEERS
Friends and classmates can influence our participation
in physical activity.
• If friends take part in a sport, they could influence
you to also take part.
• Taking a friend to play sport can make it more
enjoyable.
• If your friends do not play/enjoy sport, it is more
likely that you will not play sport.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
People Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to certain
people (both famous and not famous) affecting how someone
thinks about sport. There are 3 different people factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
3. ROLE MODELS
People we look up to (famous athletes, class mates or
even teachers – like Mr Yates) can make us want to take
part in physical activity.
• Role models can make people want to start playing
their sport.
• Role models can make people want to copy their
skills.
• If role models make bad decisions on/off the pitch
(drinking, drugs, cheating, smoking, poor
sportsmanship's – not like Mr Yates) it can mean
people copy these bad behaviours.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Image Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to things we
see. There are 2 different image factors.
KEY:
GREEN = Positive
things that might
make people play
sport.
1. FASHION
Clothing and fashion can influence what sport we want to play.
•
•
Clothes for some sports are seen as more fashionable than others –
meaning we want to play those sports.
Sports with ugly/weird clothing can discourage us from playing
them.
2. MEDIA COVERAGE
RED = Negative
things that might
stop people playing
sport.
TV, internet, newspaper and radio coverage can affect what sport we
play.
•
•
•
Sports that appear in media more can become more popular.
Women's sport is not given as much media coverage as men's –
means men's sport is more popular.
Certain sports get very little media coverage – meaning people do
not want to play them as much.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Resources Influences
KEY:
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to where
someone lives and what they have access to. There are 4 different
resource factors.
1. LOCATION
GREEN =
Positive things
that might
make people
play sport.
Where you live can affect what sports you are able to play.
RED =
Negative
things that
might stop
people playing
sport.
2. AVAILABILITY
•
•
Outdoor activities (climbing, rowing) are often only available in
countryside areas.
People might play a certain sport because they live near a certain facility
and it is easy to get to (eg swimming pool or five aside football pitches)
The availability of certain facilities can cause us to play certain sports.
•
•
Having high quality facilities for a certain sport might make you want to
play.
Coaching or training sessions being regular might make you want to play.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Resources Influences
KEY:
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to where
someone lives and what they have access to. There are 4 different
resource factors.
3. ACCESS
GREEN =
Positive things
that might
make people
play sport.
Having good facilities is only helpful if you can use them.
RED =
Negative
things that
might stop
people playing
sport.
4. TIME
•
•
Sometimes training sessions or access to best facilities are for certain
people (members) only.
Some facilities are for certain age groups only (university facilities) and
some are far too expensive to use.
You need spare time to use these facilities.
•
•
If training sessions are only at certain times/days of the week, you might
not be able to make it.
Sometimes, you might be too busy with home/school to play sport.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Socio-economic Influences
KEY:
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to a persons
status or access to money. There are 2 different socio-economic
factors.
1. COST
GREEN =
Positive things
that might
make people
play sport.
Playing sport can be very costly and some people cannot afford it.
RED =
Negative
things that
might stop
people playing
sport.
2. STATUS
•
•
Someone might be really skilled at a sport but never get to do it as they
cannot afford it.
Some sports cost a lot of money to play (American football, golf) because
of expensive equipment.
Some sports have a particular status and therefore are only played by ‘certain
people’.
•
•
Some sports (golf, polo, tennis) are associated with ‘rich people’ (Khalid
Maye)and so might not be played by everyone.
Other sports (football, fishing) are associated with ‘lower class’ people
(Mr Drake), so might be played more because there are more possible
participants.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Health & Well-being Influences
DEFINITION: These are influences that occur due to a persons
overall health. There are 2 different health and well-being factors.
KEY:
1. ILLNESS & HEALTH PROBLEMS
Long-term illnesses and health issues can affect what sport we play.
GREEN =
Positive things
that might
make people
play sport.
RED =
Negative
things that
might stop
people playing
sport.
•
•
People that are unwell are unlikely to take part in physical activity.
Some health problems (heart/breathing issues) can prevent people from
doing certain sports.
2. INJURY
People with bad injuries might not be able to play certain sports
•
•
Bad injuries can sometimes prevent people playing sport at all.
Sometimes injuries can prevent people playing sport at a high level.
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)
Influences on a Healthy, Active Lifestyle
There are 6 different categories of influences:
 Cultural factors: Age, Race, Disability, Gender
 People: Family, Peers, Role Models
 Image: Fashion, Media Coverage
 Resources: Location, Availability, Access, Time
 Socio-economic: Cost, Status
 Health & Well-being: Illness & Health-Problems, Injury
Healthy, active lifestyles (GCSE PE: Unit 1.1.1)