(On)gelijk spel?

Sport participation is a leisure time activity which has the potential to bring societal benefits. Several studies link sport participation to beneficial outcomes in terms of health, education and social capital. However it can be argued that not all types of sport participation bring the same benefits. This thesis not only assesses general sport participation, but also studies sporting contexts and aspects of health. The member states of the European Union acknowledge the beneficial effects of sport, and strive to maximize sport participation. However current participation rates differ largely between European countries, whilst education differences are relevant as well. This master thesis assesses educational and contextual differences in aspects of sport participation, using data from the Eurobarometer 72.3 and ISSP 2007 projects. Results show that the higher educated do not only possess a enhanced chance of playing sport in general, but also play healthier sports than the lower educated. Furthermore for the higher educated improving one’s health is a stronger motive for sport participation, whilst a higher education enhances the chance of preferring the commercial context above the informal context.