YOUNG ADULTS

Culture and leisure activities are seen to have a range of particular benefits for younger adults. Participation in sporting activities can help with the development of social skills and positive health outcomes, while attending and participating in cultural activities can assist with building self-esteem, improving communication and providing opportunities for social interaction (ABS 2001b).

Participation in sport amongst young adults (aged 18-24 years) is high and the participation rate remained relatively steady between 1999-2000 (74%) and 2005-06 (73%). However, during this same period, young women's participation in sport increased (from 67% to 72% respectively), whilst young men's decreased from 80% to 73%. The most popular sports and physical activities for young adults were aerobics, fitness, walking for exercise, swimming and running.

Young adults reported that the main motivators for their participation in sport and physical activities were health and fitness, enjoyment, and for social or family reasons. In contrast, the main constraints for young adults were insufficient time due to work, study, or they were not interested (ABS 2007b).

In 2005-06, young adults were most likely to attend popular music concerts and the cinema, and least likely to attend a classical music concert (ABS 2009a). These were similar to attendance rates in 1995 (ABS 1995).

Young women were more likely than young men to attend cultural venues and events in both 1995 and 2005-06. Conversely, in 2005-06 young men were more likely than young women to attend sporting events (61% compared with 53%), with Australian rules football and motor sports being the most attended by males aged 18-24 years (ABS 2007c).