July 2022
Featured in this insight: Sports & physical activity, Children & young people
68% of girls in the UK fear they will be judged if they participate in sports: A survey into the number of girls in the UK that are choosing to stop playing sports, and why, has uncovered that over two-thirds (68%) are worried about participating due to feeling judged.
The study by Women in Sport polled over 4,000 teenagers and the organisation estimates that over one million girls in the UK lose interest in sports. Furthermore, eight in ten ‘sporty’ girls state they don’t participate in sports when on their period, with 73% saying they don’t like others watching them while they take part.
When looking at the difference between teenage girls and teenage boys, the study found that just 37% of 11–16 year-old girls enjoy participating in sports, compared to 54% of boys the same age. In addition, the disparity between girls and boys in sport is further exaggerated when looking at 17–18 year-olds; with six in ten boys saying they participate in physical activity, compared to three in ten girls.
The study also found that external factors such as the pandemic have had an impact on girl’s participation in sport; with many being worried about their appearance and struggling with mental health.
Alongside not wanting to be judged by spectators, a lack of confidence was cited by girls as a main reason for not participating in sports (61%), while almost half (47%) said that they were too busy with school work to focus on other hobbies.
Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of Women in Sport, said: "It’s an absolute travesty that teenage girls are being pushed out of sport at such a scale. It is well documented that taking part in physical activity can have a profound and positive effect on mental wellbeing as well as providing many pivotal life skills such as resilience, teamwork and communication."
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