Source: Sport England / Savanta ComRes
May 2020
Welcome to wave five of the COVID-19 Briefing from Sport England, summarising the latest headlines from our weekly survey of physical activity attitudes and behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey explores the amount and type of activity being undertaken, how activity is changing over time, who people are being active with, and what they’re thinking and feeling about being active.
Carried out by Savanta ComRes over 1st to 4th May 2020. Data is weighted to be representative of adults in England by age, gender, region, social grade and the estimated households with children under 16.
You can access the full version of all the headlines and tables from previous weeks here.
Please feel free to pass these results on to your local partners.
References should be cited as - Sport England / Savanta ComRes: Survey into Adult Physical Activity Attitudes and Behaviour (April 2020). All press releases or other publications must be checked with Savanta ComRes before use.
Headlines
- Activity levels are unchanged for adults and children. Although we’ve seen a decrease in adults doing 0 x 30 over wave 1. Currently 35% of adults say they are doing more than usual, and 36% say they are doing less.
- The gender gap persists. The gender gap persists when using the 5 x 30 measure, but the figures for each gender saying they are doing more or less than usual are much closer this week.
- Home-based activity has picked up. After a slight drop last week, home based activity has picked up with its highest figure yet (48%). Walking (61%), running or jogging (19%) and cycling (13%) held steady. 84% of gym or leisure centre members say they are likely to resume their membership when facilities reopen, while 27% of non-members say they are likely to join.
- Attitudes around motivation have improved slightly after last week’s apparent waning.We also saw an increase in people agreeing they have the ability and the opportunity to be active. And we’ve seen an increase over wave 1 in the number of people saying they’ve found new ways to be active.
- Highlighting inequalities. For this wave we’ve produced a visual table showing the effect of the lockdown on the physical activity of different groups, highlighting the inequalities.
The following table shows the proportions from each group doing:
- 0 days of 30+ mins physical activity
- 5 or more days of 30+ mins physical activity
- more than usual
- less than usual
We also now have combined-wave data available for ethnic groups.
Please see the tables below for more detailed results.
Looking ahead to next week
As wave six will be the last of the full lockdown, we are thinking about what further questions to include in the survey, such as people’s intentions and concerns about returning to physical activity. We ask two new questions:
- What new experiences, habits and activities people have done during lockdown that they’d like to continue?
- What activities are they most looking forward to resuming?
Physical activity inequalities
This table shows the effect of the lockdown on the physical activity of different groups, highlighting the inequalities many face. It shows the proportions from each group doing a) 0 days of 30+ mins physical activity in the last week, b) 5 or more days of 30+ mins physical activity in the last week, c) more than usual (pre-COVID), and d) less than usual (pre-COVID).
Red is worse than the national average.
Green is better than the national average.
Those with red/orange all the way across are particularly struggling, for example: those living alone, those with longstanding conditions or illnesses, and those with no access to private outdoor space.
Data is from wave 5, except for ethnicity where we have combined data from all five waves (3rd April - 4th May 2020).
* Fewer than 30 responses
[Sig diff: Indicates whether changes this wave are statistically significant compared to previous waves]
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIOUR
Days done 30 minutes or more physical activity in last week (SIM):
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
2-4 days
|
5+ days
|
Week 1
|
22%
|
10%
|
12%
|
14%
|
8%
|
11%
|
4%
|
18%
|
|
35%
|
33%
|
Week 2
|
20%
|
9%
|
13%
|
16%
|
9%
|
10%
|
4%
|
19%
|
|
39%
|
32%
|
Week 3
|
20%
|
9%
|
13%
|
15%
|
11%
|
10%
|
5%
|
17%
|
|
39%
|
32%
|
Week 4
|
20%
|
9%
|
13%
|
16%
|
10%
|
10%
|
4%
|
17%
|
|
39%
|
32%
|
Week 5
|
18%
|
10%
|
14%
|
15%
|
11%
|
11%
|
5%
|
17%
|
|
39%
|
33%
|
Sig diff
|
Yes (w1)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes (w1)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
Yes (w1)
|
No
|
Is this more or less physical activity than usual?
|
A lot more
|
A bit more
|
Neither more nor less
|
A bit less
|
A lot less
|
|
MORE
|
LESS
|
Week 1
|
10%
|
21%
|
28%
|
17%
|
24%
|
|
31%
|
41%
|
Week 2
|
9%
|
24%
|
26%
|
18%
|
22%
|
|
33%
|
40%
|
Week 3
|
11%
|
23%
|
26%
|
17%
|
21%
|
|
34%
|
38%
|
Week 4
|
11%
|
24%
|
29%
|
16%
|
19%
|
|
35%
|
34%
|
Week 5
|
11%
|
24%
|
27%
|
17%
|
19%
|
|
35%
|
36%
|
Sig diff
|
Yes (w2)
|
Yes (w1)
|
Yes (w2, w3)
|
No
|
Yes (w1, w2, w3)
|
|
Yes (w1)
|
Yes (w1, w2)
|
Types of physical activity
Participation in the last week
|
Week 1
|
Week 2
|
Week 3
|
Week 4
|
Week 5
|
Sig diff
|
Walking
|
59%
|
59%
|
60%
|
61%
|
61%
|
No
|
Cycling
|
8%
|
10%
|
12%
|
11%
|
13%
|
Yes (w1)
|
Running or jogging
|
18%
|
16%
|
19%
|
20%
|
19%
|
Yes (w2)
|
Home activity / fitness – ONLINE
|
23%
|
21%
|
19%
|
20%
|
22%
|
Yes (w3)
|
Home activity / fitness – OFFLINE
|
24%
|
22%
|
22%
|
19%
|
22%
|
Yes (w4)
|
Informal play or games at home
|
14%
|
15%
|
16%
|
15%
|
16%
|
Yes (w1)
|
Other
|
5%
|
6%
|
6%
|
5%
|
6%
|
No
|
ANY HOME-BASED ACTIVITY
|
44%
|
45%
|
45%
|
41%
|
48%
|
Yes (w1, w4)
|
MUSCLE STRENGTHENING
Week 5 only
Days done muscle strengthening activity in last week:
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
2-4 days
|
5+ days
|
Week 5
|
28%
|
14%
|
19%
|
15%
|
8%
|
6%
|
3%
|
7%
|
|
42%
|
16%
|
Is this more or less than usual?
|
A lot more
|
A bit more
|
Neither more nor less
|
A bit less
|
A lot less
|
|
MORE
|
LESS
|
Week 5
|
9%
|
22%
|
33%
|
16%
|
17%
|
|
31%
|
33%
|
GYM MEMBERSHIP
Current gym or leisure centre membership (single or multi-site)
|
%
|
Currently a member (including if paused)
|
16%
|
Cancelled due to COVID-19
|
8%
|
Cancelled due to other reason
|
7%
|
Not been a member in 2020
|
69%
|
NET: Cancelled in 2020
|
15%
|
Current members – likelihood to continue when gyms open again
N = 319
|
%
|
Very likely
|
55%
|
Somewhat likely
|
29%
|
Somewhat unlikely
|
9%
|
Very unlikely
|
4%
|
Not sure
|
3%
|
NET: Likely
|
84%
|
NET: Unlikely
|
13%
|
Non-member – likelihood to become a member when gyms open again
N = 1690
|
%
|
Very likely
|
9%
|
Somewhat likely
|
18%
|
Somewhat unlikely
|
16%
|
Very unlikely
|
50%
|
Not sure
|
7%
|
NET: Likely
|
27%
|
NET: Unlikely
|
67%
|
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ATTITUDES
Agreement with COM-B statements
Statement
|
% Strongly Agree / Agree
|
Sig diff
|
Wk 1
|
Wk 2
|
Wk 3
|
Wk 4
|
Wk 5
|
I feel that I have the ability to be physically active
|
68%
|
66%
|
67%
|
66%
|
74%
|
Yes (all)
|
I feel that I have the opportunity to be physically active
|
65%
|
65%
|
65%
|
64%
|
70%
|
Yes (all)
|
It is important to me to exercise regularly
|
70%
|
69%
|
70%
|
65%
|
70%
|
Yes (w4)
|
I find exercise enjoyable and satisfying
|
61%
|
61%
|
61%
|
57%
|
58%
|
Yes (w1, w2, w3)
|
I feel guilty when I don’t exercise
|
56%
|
51%
|
56%
|
53%
|
53%
|
Yes (w1)
|
Other current feelings about physical activity and the coronavirus
Statement
|
% Strongly Agree / Agree
|
Sig diff
|
Wk 1
|
Wk 2
|
Wk 3
|
Wk 4
|
Wk 5
|
|
I exercise to help manage my physical health during the outbreak
|
69%
|
70%
|
70%
|
66%
|
67%
|
No
|
I have more time now to be physically active
|
65%
|
64%
|
66%
|
64%
|
67%
|
Yes (w4)
|
I exercise to help manage my mental health during the outbreak
|
65%
|
64%
|
63%
|
62%
|
62%
|
No
|
I miss the types of physical activity I was able to do before the outbreak
|
63%
|
62%
|
61%
|
57%
|
59%
|
Yes (w1)
|
I worry about leaving my home to exercise or be active
|
60%
|
60%
|
56%
|
50%
|
49%
|
Yes (w1, w2, w3)
|
I feel guilty about not exercising more during the outbreak
|
50%
|
48%
|
50%
|
50%
|
51%
|
No
|
Since the outbreak I have found new ways to be active
|
49%
|
51%
|
50%
|
51%
|
53%
|
Yes (w1)
|
I have been encouraged to exercise by the Government’s guidance
|
53%
|
48%
|
51%
|
46%
|
47%
|
Yes (w1, w3)
|
The current situation has not impacted my current exercise regime
|
42%
|
43%
|
42%
|
45%
|
47%
|
Yes (w1, w2, w3)
|
I do not find exercising on my own enjoyable
|
40%
|
43%
|
43%
|
44%
|
43%
|
No
|
I feel guilty about wanting to exercise during the outbreak
|
27%
|
31%
|
28%
|
25%
|
24%
|
Yes (w1, w2, w3)
|
Do people feel it is more or less important to be active at the moment?
|
Much more important
|
Somewhat more important
|
No more or less important
|
Somewhat less important
|
Much less important
|
Don’t know
|
|
MORE
|
LESS
|
Week 1
|
22%
|
40%
|
29%
|
3%
|
1%
|
3%
|
|
62%
|
5%
|
Week 2
|
21%
|
37%
|
32%
|
3%
|
2%
|
4%
|
|
59%
|
5%
|
Week 3
|
23%
|
40%
|
29%
|
4%
|
1%
|
3%
|
|
63%
|
5%
|
Week 4
|
22%
|
37%
|
31%
|
4%
|
3%
|
3%
|
|
59%
|
6%
|
Week 5
|
22%
|
39%
|
30%
|
4%
|
2%
|
3%
|
|
61%
|
6%
|
Sig diff
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
No
|
No
|
CHILDREN’S PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS
Average daily time spent doing physical activity (average per child in household)
|
Week 1
|
Week 2
|
Week 3
|
Week 4
|
Week 5
|
Sig diff
|
Nothing
|
12%
|
8%
|
10%
|
9%
|
10%
|
No
|
Some, but less than half an hour
|
36%
|
35%
|
36%
|
35%
|
35%
|
No
|
Between half an hour and an hour
|
38%
|
38%
|
39%
|
38%
|
38%
|
No
|
An hour or more
|
14%
|
18%
|
14%
|
18%
|
19%
|
Yes (w1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOME
|
88%
|
92%
|
90%
|
91%
|
90%
|
No
|
*Question wording amended slightly in week 5
Is this more or less than usual?
|
A lot more
|
A bit more
|
Neither more or less
|
A bit less
|
A lot less
|
|
MORE
|
LESS
|
Week 1
|
7%
|
23%
|
31%
|
20%
|
18%
|
|
30%
|
38%
|
Week 2
|
8%
|
27%
|
29%
|
17%
|
18%
|
|
35%
|
35%
|
Week 3
|
7%
|
25%
|
29%
|
18%
|
20%
|
|
32%
|
38%
|
Week 4
|
9%
|
24%
|
30%
|
18%
|
16%
|
|
33%
|
34%
|
Week 5
|
8%
|
24%
|
32%
|
18%
|
17%
|
|
32%
|
35%
|
Sig diff
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
No
|
No
|
*Question wording of preceding question amended slightly in week 5 so no measure of sig diff
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BY DEMOGRAPHIC
% of adults doing at least 30 mins physical activity on 5 or more days in the last week
|
Wk 1
|
Wk 2
|
Wk 3
|
Wk 4
|
Wk 5
|
Sig diff
|
ALL
|
33%
|
32%
|
32%
|
32%
|
33%
|
No
|
Male
|
32%
|
35%
|
35%
|
36%
|
38%
|
Yes (w1)
|
Female
|
35%
|
29%
|
29%
|
28%
|
28%
|
Yes (w1)
|
16-34
|
34%
|
31%
|
33%
|
31%
|
28%
|
Yes (w1)
|
35-54
|
34%
|
31%
|
29%
|
34%
|
35%
|
Yes (w3)
|
55+
|
32%
|
33%
|
34%
|
30%
|
34%
|
No
|
ABC1
|
35%
|
35%
|
34%
|
36%
|
33%
|
No
|
C2DE
|
32%
|
29%
|
29%
|
27%
|
32%
|
Yes (w4)
|
White
|
34%
|
32%
|
33%
|
33%
|
34%
|
-
|
Mixed
|
28% (week 1-5)
|
-
|
Asian
|
31%
|
30%
|
31%
|
29%
|
27%
|
-
|
Black
|
25% (week 1-5)
|
-
|
Chinese
|
*
|
-
|
Other ethnic group
|
*
|
-
|
Children in house
|
36%
|
30%
|
31%
|
32%
|
32%
|
No
|
No children in house
|
31%
|
33%
|
33%
|
31%
|
33%
|
No
|
Other caring responsibilities at home
|
32%
|
32%
|
30%
|
31%
|
31%
|
-
|
Longstanding condition or illness
|
26%
|
25%
|
23%
|
23%
|
23%
|
No
|
No longstanding condition or illness
|
36%
|
35%
|
36%
|
36%
|
36%
|
No
|
NEW: Access to private outdoor space
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
33%
|
34%
|
34%
|
-
|
NEW: No access to private outdoor space
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
28%
|
20%
|
26%
|
-
|
NE
|
38%
|
34%
|
43%
|
*
|
42%
|
-
|
NW
|
37%
|
34%
|
33%
|
30%
|
32%
|
-
|
Y+H
|
40%
|
30%
|
32%
|
27%
|
29%
|
-
|
WM
|
34%
|
35%
|
33%
|
33%
|
28%
|
-
|
EM
|
28%
|
32%
|
34%
|
30%
|
29%
|
-
|
E
|
35%
|
33%
|
33%
|
34%
|
33%
|
-
|
L
|
26%
|
31%
|
23%
|
27%
|
35%
|
-
|
SE
|
33%
|
33%
|
33%
|
37%
|
33%
|
-
|
SW
|
32%
|
29%
|
34%
|
35%
|
34%
|
-
|
Urban
|
32%
|
32%
|
30%
|
31%
|
33%
|
-
|
Rural
|
39%
|
33%
|
40%
|
35%
|
31%
|
-
|
* Fewer than 30 responses
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can explore the full version - including all the headlines and tables from previous weeks here.
If you have questions regarding the new survey, please get in touch via the Knowledge Hub Insight Forum.
BUILDING THE INSIGHT PICTURE
As with most aspects of our work and lives, things are changing rapidly. Identifying opportunities to collaborate with partners to build a more detailed picture of the issues affecting the nation’s physical activity is paramount. Therefore, if you have or are aware of emerging insight that you think would be useful, we would be grateful for any details to be shared with us via insight@sportengland.org
Best wishes,
Active Partnerships Team
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