Sporting Equals Summary Report Active Lives Adult Survey May 2019_20

Active Lives Survey May 2019/20
Summary Findings
December 2020

INTRODUCTION
• This report presents data from the Active Lives Adult Survey for the period
mid-May 2019 to mid-May 2020 for adults aged 16+ in England. The
results were first published 22 nd October 2020. The 12 months includes
the 7-weeks from the 23 March to mid-May when England was in full
lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
• This summary highlights key national statistics for participation in sport
and physical activity and wellbeing measures for people from ethnically
diverse backgrounds.
• The May 2019/20 survey received 190,401 valid responses: White British-
158,564, Other White-10,108, Asian (excl. Chinese) -7,807, Black-2,671,
Chinese-1,079, Mixed ethnicity-2,319 and Other ethnic group-1,424.
• The Survey uses weighting to reduce the bias in survey estimates. Weights
are produced to make the weighted achieved sample match the
population as closely as possible.

DEFINITIONS
• The Chief Medical Officer defines an active person as someone who, over
the course of a week, does 150 or more moderate intensity equivalent
(MIE) minutes of physical activity.
• ‘Fairly active’ refers to 30-149 minutes of activity and ‘inactive’ refers to
30 or fewer minutes.
• ‘Moderate intensity’ is defined as activity where you raise your heart rate
and feel a little out of breath.
• Sport England’s definition of being active includes all types of sport and
physical activity excluding gardening.

150 Minutes Activity a Week – May 2019/20
• Before the pandemic and lockdown
measures began, the underlying
trend amongst most ethnic groups
was flat but, as White British adults
were showing a steady increase, the
inequalities were widening (1)
Active -150+ mins a week (by ethnicity, 12 month comparison)
58.9%
Other ethnic group
56.4%
Mixed
70.9%
68.7%
• 62.8% of all adults aged 16+ were
active in the last 12 months
compared to 63.2% in the previous
year.
Chinese
Black
64.2%
60.7%
56.9%
57.1%
• Mixed ethnic groups remain the
most active at 68.7% followed by
Other White (65.3%).
Asian (excl. Chinese)
White Other
55.8%
53.0%
65.9%
65.3%
• At 53% Asian people continue to
have lowest activity levels, which
represents a significant decrease
from the previous year (55.8%).
White British
May 2018/19 May 2019/20
64.2%
64.2%

150 Minutes Activity a Week (by gender & ethnicity)
• Overall, 64.6% of adult males
aged 16+ are ‘active’ compared
to 61.3% of females.
Active -150+ mins a week
(by gender & ethnicity, May 2019/20)
• Males are generally more
active than females across all
ethnic groups – although
participation is similar among
the ‘White Other’ group.
64.6%
61.3%
65.8% 65.6% 65.1%
62.8%
56.7%
48.3%
64.6%
51.3%
62.5%
59.0%
71.4%
66.4%
58.3%
54.2%
• The most active are males from
mixed ethnic backgrounds
(71.4%), followed by White
British males (65.8%).
• Asian females (excluding
Chinese) are least active
(48.3%), followed by Black
females (51.3%).
All ethnicity
16+
White British White Other Asian (excl
Chinese)
Male
Black Chinese Mixed Other ethnic
group
Female

150 Minutes Activity a Week
(by religion)
• In the last 12 months, people
with no religion were the most
active (69.1%). The next most
active were people from ‘Other’
religions (62.8%).
70.2% 69.1%
63%
61.7%
150 Mins a weeks, by religion
49.9%
47.7%
57.3% 57.9%
66.4%
64.4%
56% 55.9% 55.6%
53.9%
65.3%
62.8%
• The least active continue to be
people from a Muslim
background – 47.7% were
active in the last 12 compared
with 49.9% the previous year.
The next least active were Sikhs
(55.6%), Buddhists (55.9%) and
Jewish people (56%).
No Religion Christian Muslim Hindu Jewish Buddhist Sikh Other
May 18/19 May 19/20

Inactivity – Less Than 30 Minutes a Week
• Overall, a quarter of adults aged 16+
are inactive (25.5%)
Inactive - less than 30 mins a week
(by ethnicity, 12 month comparison)
• Asian people (excluding Chinese) are
most inactive continuing the trend
from previous years (34.3%). Other
ethnic groups are the next most
inactive (33.5%). Both represent a
significant increase in inactivity
levels in the last 12 months.
Other ethnic group
Mixed
Chinese
Black
19.0%
21.4%
24.7%
24.2%
27.0%
28.7%
29.7%
33.5%
• Inactivity remains high among Black
communities at 29.7%.
Asian (excl. Chinese)
31.4%
34.3%
• People from mixed ethnic
backgrounds are least likely to be
inactive (21.4%) followed by Other
White (23.9%), following previous
patterns.
White Other
White British
22.9%
23.9%
23.8%
24.1%
May 2018/19 May 2019/20

Inactivity – Less Than 30 Minutes a Week
(by gender & ethnicity)
• Adult females (16+) are more likely
to be inactive (25.9%) compared
with adult males (24.8%).
• In the last 12 months, inactivity was
lowest among males and females
from Mixed ethnic backgrounds,
20.1% and 22.3% respectively.
• Asian females continue to be the
most inactive group; over a third
(37%) did less than 30 minutes of
physical activity a week in the
previous 12 months, followed by
34.9% of females from Other ethnic
groups.
• Inactivity among Black females also
continues to high at 31.8%
25.9%
24.8%
All ethnicity
16+
24.5%
23.5%
White
British
Inactive - less than 30 mins a week
(by gender & ethnicity, May 2019/20)
24.5%
23.4%
32.2%
37.0%
White Other Asian (excl
Chinese)
Male
26.6%
31.8%
24.5%
23.8%
20.1%
22.3%
32.1%
34.9%
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic group
Female

Inactive – Less than 30 Minutes a Week
(by religion)
• In the last 12 months, 40.4% of
Muslims did less than 30 minutes of
physical activity a week, significantly
more than people from all other
religions and none. The next least
active were Hindus (30.1%), Sikhs
(30.1%) and Jewish (30%).
• The lowest inactive group continues
to be people with no religion; 20.1%
were inactive in the last 12 months
and 18.9% in the year previous to
that.
20.1%
18.9%
24.3%
26.4%
Less than 30 mins a week - by religion
40.4%
34.0% 33.8%
30.1% 30% 29.5%
22.7%
26.6%
30.1%
29.4%
24.4%
27.0%
• Inactivity increased across all groups
accept among Hindus – although the
data does not represent a significant
increase.
No Religion Christian Muslim Hindu Jewish Buddhist Sikh Other
May 18/19 May 19/20

Activity Levels in Sporting Equals Core
Areas, May 2019/20
Leicester
56.9%
14.6%
28.5%
Coventry
57.4%
15.6%
27%
Active
Wolverhampton
51.9%
11.5%
36.6%
Fairly active
Bradford
57.5%
11.2%
31.1%
Manchester
63.4%
9.2%
27.4%
Inactive
Barking and Dagenham
49.4%
12.8%
37.8%
Slough
54.5%
7.6%
37.9%
Birmingham
59.5%
11.4%
29.1%
England
62.8%
11.7%
25.5%
• Apart from Manchester (63.4%), Sporting Equals target areas have a significantly lower activity
levels than the England average (62.8%). Barking and Dagenham has the lowest proportion of
active people (49.4%).
• Inactivity is higher than England (25.5%) in all target areas. The closest to the England average is
Coventry (27%) and Manchester (27.4%).The most inactive is Slough (37.9%) and Barking and
Dagenham (37.8%)
• Coventry and Leicester have the largest ‘fairly active’ group (30-149 minutes), with15.6% and
14.6% respectively.

Loneliness, May 2019/20
By ethnicity, May 2019/20 By gender and ethnicity, May 2019/20
Other ethnic group
7.4%
Mixed
9.8%
Chinese
12%
11.1%
9.0%
Black
Asian (excl Chinese)
White Other
White British
All adults 16+
6.7%
7.8%
7%
5.8%
6.2%
5.4% 4.9% 6.3% 6.6% 8.5% 19.6%7.4%
5.8%
6.9% 6.6% 7.7% 9.4% 5.3% 5.0%
• During May 2019-20, 6.2% of all adults were often or always lonely; males (5.4%) were less likely
to be lonely than females (6.9%). Active people were less lonely than inactive people (5.6% and
8.3% respectively).
• White British people were least lonely (5.8%), and males from this group were least likely to be
lonely often or always (4.9%) compared to all other groups.
• Chinese people were most lonely (12%) out of all ethnic groups, and Chinese males the loneliest of
all groups (19.6%). However, Chinese females were among the least lonely overall (5%).
• Females from Mixed ethnic backgrounds (11.1%) were the most lonely compared to females from
all other ethnic backgrounds. High rates of loneliness were also found among Asian females (9.4%)
from those Other ethnic backgrounds (9%).

How satisfied are you with life nowadays?
May 2019/20
By ethnicity – 12 month comparison
By gender and ethnicity, May 2019/20
7.3
7.2
7.1
7
6.9
6.8
6.7
6.6
6.5
6.4
6.3
7.097.11
All Adults
16+
7.16 7.16
White
British
7.06
7.01
White
Other
6.99
6.92
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
6.76
6.89
6.90
6.74
6.61
6.69
6.66
7.10
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
7.19 7.24 7.18 7.13
7.02
6.77 6.78
7.31
7.04 7.10 6.96
6.83
6.77
6.70
6.61
6.85
May 2018/19 May 2019/20
• There was no significant change in life satisfaction from the previous year among each ethnic
group – people on average scored 7.11 out of 10. This year the highest scores were again
among White British people (7.16), followed by Other ethnic group (7.10). Lowest life
satisfaction scores were given by Mixed (6.69) and Chinese people (6.74).
• In the last 12 months, males from Other ethnic groups were the most satisfied with life followed
by White British males. Lowest scores overall were given by females from Mixed backgrounds,
Chinese males and females, Black females and males from Mixed backgrounds.
• Males were generally more satisfied with life than females. Among females White British and
Other White females had the highest average scores.

How happy did you feel yesterday?
May 2019/20
By ethnicity, 12 month comparison By gender & ethnicity, May 2019/20
7.3
7.2
7.1
7
6.9
6.8
6.7
6.6
6.5
6.4
6.3
7.13
7.09
All 16+
7.18
7.13
White
British
7.057.03 7.04
7.01
White
Other
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
7.14
7.07
6.82
6.64
6.74
6.66
6.82
6.75
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
7.3
7.2
7.1
7
6.9
6.8
6.7
6.6
6.5
6.4
6.3
7.17 7.21 7.13 7.11 7.16 6.88
6.66
7.03 7.03 7.08 6.95
6.87
7.00
6.62 6.66 6.63
May 2018/19 May 2019/20
• Overall happiness levels dropped from the previous year, although the only significant change was
among White British, where the drop represented a significant decrease. Nevertheless, White
British people were still the happiest with a mean score of 7.13 followed by Black people (7.07).
The least happy were Chinese (6.64) and people from Mixed Ethnic backgrounds (6.74).
• In the last 12 months, overall White British males were happiest followed by Black males. Lowest
scores were given by Chinese females, females from Other Ethnic backgrounds, Mixed females and
Chinese males.
• Males were generally happier than females. Among females White British (7.08) and Black females
had the highest average scores (7).

To what extent are the things you do in your life
worthwhile? May 2019/20
By ethnicity, 12 month comparison By gender & ethnicity, May 2019/20
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
7.37.29
7.357.33
7.247.22
7.10 7.10
7.58
7.53
7.07
6.68
6.91
6.81
7.13
7.32
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6
5.8
7.53
7.61
7.28 7.32
7.40 7.27 7.31 7.36 7.31
7.15 7.19
7.02
7.03
6.83 6.85
6.52
6.2
All 16+
White
British
White
Other
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
May 2018/19 May 2019/20
• There was no change in the overall mean score for the ‘worthwhile’ question from the
previous year. Females generally were more likely to feel the things they did were
worthwhile.
• Black people again scored the highest with a mean score of 7.58, followed by people from
Other ethnic group. Lowest scores were found among Chinese, Mixed ethnic groups and
Asian people.
• In the last 12 months, overall Black females and males were most likely to feel that the
things they did in life were worthwhile. Lowest mean scores were among Chinese males and
females and females from Mixed Ethnic backgrounds.

How anxious did you feel yesterday?
May 2019/20
By ethnicity, 12 month comparison By gender & ethnicity, May 2019/20
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
3.383.46 3.313.39
All 16+
White
British
3.63
3.49
White
Other
3.783.82
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
3.25
3.57
4.13
4.03
May 2018/19 May 2019/20
3.88 3.853.83
3.71
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
3.2 3.09
3.46 3.66 3.22
3.96
3.68 3.7 3.65 3.77 4.04 4.10
4.26
4.07
3.82
3.41
• There was a significant increase in anxiety levels from the previous year. Overall, females
were more anxious than males.
• People from Chinese and Mixed Ethnic backgrounds had the highest anxiety scores and
White British people the lowest, although the 0.08 rise for this group represented a
significant increase.
• In the last 12 months, females from Other Ethnic backgrounds were the most anxious with a
mean score of 4.26, compared to a lowest mean score of 3.09 among White British males.
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Wellbeing – by activity levels
May 2019/20
• Active individuals had higher
mean scores for life satisfaction,
happiness levels and feeling that
the things they do in life are
worthwhile compared to their
inactive counterparts (score in
brackets):
• Life satisfaction – 7.3 (6.64)
• Happiness – 7.26 (6.7)
• Worthwhile – 7.45 (6.9)
7.30
7.26
7.45
3.38
Wellbeing, by activity levels
6.99
7.00
7.25
6.64
6.70
6.90
3.55 3.62
• Inactive people had higher
anxiety levels compared to
active people (mean scores of
3.62 and 3.38 respectively).
Active Fairly Active Inactive
Life satisfaction Happiness Worthwhile Anxiety

CONCLUSION
• Before the pandemic and lockdown measures began, the underlying trend
amongst most ethnic groups was flat but, as White British adults were showing a
steady increase, the inequalities were widening. This year Asian people continued
to have the lowest activity levels, with a significant decrease from the previous
year. Asian and Black females remain the least active of all groups.
• Sporting Equals target areas have a significantly lower activity levels than the
England (apart from Manchester) particularly Barking and Dagenham.
• Wellbeing levels were mixed among different ethnic groups e.g. Black females and
males were most likely to feel that the things they did in life were worthwhile.
Although drops in wellbeing were seen among White British people, they still
scored higher across most measures compared to other ethnic groups, particularly
White British males.
• More work needs to be done to ensure that disparities between participation
among White British and the least physically active communities and groups does
not continue to widen.

RECOMMENDATIONS
• Further proactive engagement by providers of sport and physical activity
with ethnically diverse communities ensuring that marketing and
engagement strategies are culturally appropriate.
• Providers of sport and physical activity to review equality and diversity
policy and practice to understand their effectiveness at a grassroots level
and ensure that inclusivity is at the heart of sport and physical activity
provision, development and governance.
• Working with ethnically diverse communities that are least engaged to
not only understand the challenges but in the development of solutions
and in their implementation.
• The impact of the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on
wellbeing and activity levels among some communities. Taking a holistic
approach to addressing inactivity will be critical in improving overall
wellbeing in some of the most inactive groups.

SPORTING EQUALS