SOCIAL SUPPORT
It is suggested that contact with others is important in providing individuals with identity, social roles and social support mechanisms (ABS 2006). For example, family and friends can act as confidants, carry out favours and provide support in times of crisis.
Number of friends can confide in
Sport and physical recreation participants were more likely to have a greater number of friends they felt able to confide in, with 58% having 3 or more (compared with 37% for non-participants). Sport participants were also much less likely than non-participants to have no friends to confide in. Only 10% of sport participants did not have any friends to confide in, less than half the proportion of non-participants (23%).
8.3 PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION, By number of friends can confide in(a)
As the number of friends people can confide in increases, so too does the sport and physical recreation participation rate. The rate reaches a high of 84% amongst people who had 5 or more friends they feel they can confide in, and a low of 55% amongst those with no such friends.
8.4 Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, By number of friends can confide in |
|
 | Participated | Did not participate | Total | Participation rate | Non-participation rate | Total |
| '000 | '000 | '000 | % | % | % |
|
| No friends can confide in | 1 199.2 | 998.1 | 2 197.3 | 54.6 | 45.4 | 100.0 |
| 1-2 friends can confide in | 4 015.2 | 1 717.0 | 5 732.2 | 70.0 | 30.0 | 100.0 |
| 3-4 friends can confide in | 4 045.9 | 1 012.4 | 5 058.3 | 80.0 | 20.0 | 100.0 |
| 5 or more friends can confide in | 3 198.4 | 601.9 | 3 800.3 | 84.2 | 15.8 | 100.0 |
| Total | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
|
Ability to ask for small favours
The sport and physical recreation participation rate was much higher among people who felt able to ask for small favours at 76% than those who did not feel able (58%). The ability to ask for small favours was slightly more common among sport participants, with a greater proportion (94%) having this ability compared with non-participants (88%).
8.5 Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, By ability to ask for small favours |
|
| Participated | Did not participate | Total | Participation rate | Non-participation rate | Total |
| '000 | '000 | '000 | % | % | % |
|
| Could ask for small favours | 11 730.8 | 3 800.0 | 15 530.8 | 75.5 | 24.5 | 100.0 |
| Could not ask for small favours | 727.9 | 529.5 | 1 257.3 | 57.9 | 42.1 | 100.0 |
| Total | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
|
Ability to obtain support
Similar trends are evident when examining people's ability to obtain support in a time of crisis, with the sport and physical recreation participation rate higher for those who were able to obtain support from people living outside of the household (75%) than for those who were unable to obtain support (57%). The majority of people felt able to obtain support in a time of crisis, yet the proportion of sport participants (95%) exceeded that of non-participants (90%).
8.6 Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, By ability to get support in times of crisis from persons living outside the household |
|
| Participated | Did not participate | Total | Participation rate | Non-participation rate | Total |
| '000 | '000 | '000 | % | % | % |
|
| Able to get support | 11 848.2 | 3 876.9 | 15 725.1 | 75.3 | 24.7 | 100.0 |
| Not able to get support | 610.5 | 452.5 | 1 063.1 | 57.4 | 42.6 | 100.0 |
| Total | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
|
Support in times of crisis was most commonly obtained by sport and physical recreation participants from a family member (81%), friend (69%) or neighbour (29%). The same sources of support were most common among non-participants, with 76%, 49%, 22% respectively.
8.7 Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, By source of support in times of crisis |
|
| Participated | Did not participate | Total | Participation rate | Non-participation rate | Total |
| '000 | '000 | '000 | % | % | % |
|
| Friend | 8 570.3 | 2 133.8 | 10 704.1 | 80.1 | 19.9 | 100.0 |
| Neighbour | 3 592.1 | 971.0 | 4 563.1 | 78.7 | 21.3 | 100.0 |
| Family member | 10 048.9 | 3 278.5 | 13 327.4 | 75.4 | 24.6 | 100.0 |
| Work colleague | 2 896.9 | 434.2 | 3 331.1 | 87.0 | 13.0 | 100.0 |
| Community, charity or religious organisation | 1 342.6 | 295.2 | 1 637.9 | 82.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 |
| Local council or other government services | 677.0 | 171.6 | 848.6 | 79.8 | 20.2 | 100.0 |
| Health, legal or financial professional | 1 189.0 | 206.9 | 1 395.9 | 85.2 | 14.8 | 100.0 |
| Other | 85.2 | *16.8 | 102.0 | 83.6 | *16.4 | 100.0 |
| No support | 610.5 | 452.5 | 1 063.1 | 57.4 | 42.6 | 100.0 |
| Total(a) | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
|
| * estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
| (a) Components do not add to totals, as some respondents identified more than one source of support. |
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