Savanta ComRes interviewed 1,004 Welsh adults (16+) online from the 13th August to 16th August 2021. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of Welsh adults by gender, age, region, social grade, and the estimated households with children under 16.
Key Findings
- Overall activity levels have increased since March 2021 and the majority of adults now report doing more activity than before the pandemic. However, older adults, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those with a long-standing condition or illness are still more likely to report doing less activity than they were before the pandemic.
- The proportion of adults currently reporting ‘no activity’ in the previous week is the lowest observed throughout the pandemic. 16% of adults report ‘no activity’ in the previous week, compared to 22% in May 2020.
- Women (18%), those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (22%) and those aged 55+ (23%) are more likely (than their counterparts) to report ‘no activity’ at this time.
- Rates of participation in home-based activities have declined since March and are the lowest observed throughout the pandemic. 21% of adults reported doing some form of home-based activity in the previous week (May 2020 30%; October 2020 22%; March; 2021 24%).
- There has been an increase in the use of indoor facilities since October 2020 (before the firebreak). 17% of adults reported using an indoor gym or fitness centre in the previous week (compared to 12% in October 2020), while 15% of adults reported using an indoor swimming pool in the previous week (compared to 9% in October 2020). Despite this, the intended levels of post-lockdown activity expressed by adults in March (Wave 3) does not appear to have fully materialised. The biggest discrepancy between intention and actual activity appears in the case of swimming pools and gyms/fitness classes.
- Adults tend to report that their child/children are doing more sport/physical activity at this time than they would typically before the COVID-19 restriction were first introduced in March 2020. There is a notable increase in weekday activity reported since March 2021.
- 8% of adults report having volunteered in sport in the past twelve months. This has increased from 5% in March 2021. Of these ‘sports volunteers’, 19% are still volunteering in the same role that they were before the COVID-19 restrictions were introduced, while 10% have stopped/paused their volunteering due to COVID-19 restrictions. The latter has reduced since Wave 3 where 24% had stopped/paused their volunteering due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- 30% of adults have been encouraged to exercise by government guidance. This is lower than observed at all previous stages in the pandemic (March 37%, 35% October 2020, 43% May 2020).
- 42% of adults miss the types of activity they were able to do before the first restrictions were introduced in March last year. This is the lowest proportion observed throughout the duration of this pandemic (56% May 2020, 49% October 2020, 53% March 2021).
- 65% of adults say that they are exercising to manage their mental health at this time. This is slightly higher than has been reported at all previous stages in the pandemic (May 2020 62%, October 2020 63%, March 63%).
- Parks are still the setting to which adults are most likely to feel confident taking part, with 66% (of respondents) saying that they would feel confident taking part in physical activity in a park.
For a copy of the full report email insightteam@sport.wales.
