Game on or game over? A cross-sectional study of factors impacting sport-active and sport-inactive Australian adults

Sport provides immense physical, psychological, and social benefits. However, participation rates in Australia are declining across the lifespan. Adults (25–64 years) are particularly vulnerable to inactivity due to the significant life events and transitions that occur throughout this population. This study examined the multi-level factors impacting sport participation among sport-active and sport-inactive working age adults. A cross-sectional survey of 744 Australians (Mage = 45.2 years, 76.6% female) was conducted to determine potential predictors of sport participation and to compare the factors impacting sport-active (n = 470) and sport-inactive (n = 274) groups. Individual-level facilitators (e.g., enjoyment, being active) were associated with an increased likelihood of sport engagement, and various constraints (e.g., individual, partner, interest, time) were associated with decreased likelihood of participation. The outcomes from this study have the potential to guide the development of future initiatives to encourage and sustain adults’ sport participation, and to provide direction for future research.