Statement
In a recent study conducted by Salam Watandar, the pivotal role of sports/exercising in the lives of Afghan youth has been examined. With a focus on both genders (female and male), young individuals were selected as the target demographic to gauge the significance of exercising in their daily lives.
Engaging in physical activities not only offers a pathway to potential careers but also holds paramount importance in human health. Doctors often recommend exercising even for patients with incurable illnesses, emphasizing its role in maintaining physical fitness and healthy weight standards. Given the vital role of exercising in both mental and physical well-being, the study aimed to explore the attitudes of youth who actively participate in sports.
Through this nationwide survey conducted across all 28 provinces, Salam Watandar delved into the exercise and health status of Afghan youth, providing valuable insights into their perspectives on sports and its impact on their lives.
Background
The tradition of sports competitions in Afghanistan dates back through the annals of its history. Given the paramount importance of exercising for human health, it was imperative to conduct extensive research in this sector. However, until now, there has been no research conducted on how youth engage in sports, their attitudes toward exercising, and ultimately, what proportion of youth are actively involved in that.
Therefore, Salam Watandar undertook a survey and interviewed with 751 young individuals, to explore whether they engage in exercising or not. By conducting this survey, Salam Watandar aimed to examine a sample of youth to determine the proportion actively participating in exercising and to gauge the significance of it among them.
Survey questions
- What is the attitude of youth toward exercising?
- Among youth, do women engage in exercising more or men?
- What are the main motivations for engaging in exercising?
Survey Objectives
- Investigate the health status of youth considering the importance of exercising in health.
- Determining the significance of exercise among women and men.
- Identifying factors that prevent youth from engaging in exercise.
Survey Timeline
This survey was conducted over a period of three months, from February 4th to April 29th, and the collected data has been analyzed and examined.
Summary
Salam Watandar conducted a survey across 28 provinces of Afghanistan among 751 youths to determine the number of youths who engage in exercise alongside other activities.
Findings from the survey indicate that out of every six participants, four reported engaging in sports.
According to the survey findings, 488 youths, constituting 65% of the survey population, stated that they participate in exercising, while 263 others, accounting for 35% of respondents, mentioned that they do not engage in sports.
The survey also examined the difference in the level of exercising between boys and girls, revealing that boys engage in exercise two times as much as girls.
Of the total youths participating in the survey who reported engaging in sports, approximately 62% were boys and 38% were girls.
The survey also investigated the reasons behind boys’ and girls’ participation in exercise, indicating that most girls engage in exercising for beauty purposes, while boys do so for strength and muscle development.
The findings of this survey demonstrate that 66.4% of girls participating in the survey, who engage in exercising, mentioned doing so for having a beautiful physique, while 71.9% of boys stated doing it for healthy body.
Comprehensive report of the Survey
Findings from Salam Watandar’s survey on the level of engagement in exercising among 751 youths across 28 provinces indicate that 65% of the survey participants engage in exercising. However, 263 individuals, constituting 35% of the respondents, do not participate in exercising.
Based on these findings, out of the total number of individuals who engaged in exercising, which includes 488 individuals, 65.7% of them do so for having healthy body, 28.3% for having a beautiful physique, and 5.9% said because it is related to their career field.
Furthermore, according to the findings of this survey, among the 263 young people who stated that they do not exercise, 31.8% of them cited the unavailability of exercising facilities, 23.1% cited laziness, 22.7% cited occupational busyness, and 22.4% stated that they are not interested and do not exercise because they believe they are already muscular enough.
This survey was conducted across 28 provinces, with Kabul having the highest participation at 49.7%, while Bamyan had the lowest participation at 0.7%.
The participants in this survey are categorized into different age groups. 35.3% of participants are between 20 to 25 years old, 33.8% are between 15 to 20 years old, 19.8% are between 25 to 30 years old, and 11.1% of participants are between 30-35 years old.
In this survey, the educational status of the participants has also been investigated. 46.7% of respondents have a bachelor’s degree, 45.1% are high school students or graduates, 2.9% have a master’s degree, and 4.9% are illiterate.
In this survey, the gender of the participants has also been examined. Out of the total of 751 young people involved in the survey, 55.7% are boys and 44.3% are girls.
The level of interest in exercising among young people based on gender segregation has also been examined in this survey, and the findings indicate that boys engage in sports more than girls. Out of the 488 young people who participate in exercising, 61.7% are boys and 38.3% are girls.
Furthermore, among the total of 263 young people who do not engage in exercising, the majority are girls, with 55.5% of these young people being girls and 44.5% being boys.
In this survey, the reasons for engaging in exercising among boys and girls have been examined. Among the total number of boys participating in the survey who engage in exercising, 71.9% do so for muscular development. Similarly, among the total number of girls participating in the survey who engage in exercising, 66.4% do so for beauty purposes.
On the other hand, the reasons for not engaging in exercising in the daily lives of young people have also been investigated. Among the total number of girls participating in the survey who do not engage in exercise, 65.2% cite the lack of opportunity and suitable facilities as the reasons. Similarly, among the total number of boys participating in the survey who do not engage in exercise, 55.9% cite lack of time as the reason for not exercising.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the survey, the following recommendations are proposed for fostering a healthy society:
- The de-facto government is recommended to facilitate access to sports/exercising facilities for women in clubs.
- Awareness programs highlighting the importance of exercising and its role in mental health must be implemented, utilizing various media channels.
- Exercising is also considered a professional career path for young people, and therefore, the government should provide support in this regard.
