Sporting Equals Corona Summary Active Lives May 2019_20

Active Lives Survey May 2019/20
Corona Report -Summary Findings
December 2020

INTRODUCTION
• This report presents data from the Active Lives Adult Survey for the period
mid-Nov 2019 to mid-May 2020. Data is presented for adults aged 16+ in
England. The results were first published 22 nd October 2020. The 6 months
includes the 7-weeks from the 23 March to mid-May when England was in
full lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic
• Survey respondents were asked to recall activity over a 28 day reference
period and as such some pre-lockdown activity will have been captured in
the data.
• The data is based a sample of 190,401 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.
• Across mid-March to mid-May 2020, the achieved sample was 39,041.
• 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.

Corona impact: 12 month comparison
• Between mid-March-mid-May, overall levels of activity
reduced by 7.1% from 65.3% in the same period in 2019
to 58.2% in 2020. This represents just over 3 million
fewer active adults.
• Adults classed as inactive increased by 7.4%, from 23%
last year to 30.4% in mid-March-mid-May this year. This
represents just over 3.4 million more inactive adults.

Corona impact: 12 month comparison, by ethnicity
• The national lockdown has had
a disproportionately negative
impact on those from Asian,
Black, Other ethnic.
• Drops in activity levels (at least
150 mins a week) compared to
the same period in 2019 were
larger amongst these groups -
indicating they've found it
harder to find new ways to stay
active.
• Other ethnic - 17.9% drop
• Black – 14.2% drop
• Asian – 14% drop
• Chinese – 13% drop*
66% 65%
60% 61%
58%
44%
White British White Other Asian (excl.
Chinese)
Activity levels - mid-March-mid May
61%
46%
55%
42%
69%
61%
71%
53%
Black Chinese Mixed Other ethnic
group
2019 2020

Corona impact: participation by ethnicity & gender
• Females from Mixed ethnic
backgrounds (62.9%), White Other
males (61.1%) and White British
males (61%) were the most active
during early lockdown.
Active mid-March-mid May, by gender
62.9% 61.1% 61.0% 60.7% 59.8% 59.7%
54.7%
52.1%
47.0% 46.7% 45.0% 44.0% 43.6%
• The least active were both Chinese
males (38.9%) and females (43.6%)
Asian males (44%) and females (45%)
and Black females (46.7%) and Black
males (47%).
38.9%
• Drops in activity levels were larger
for men from both Asian (excluding
Chinese) (20.8%) and Black
backgrounds (19.5%). Therefore,
whilst the overall inequalities
increased, within these ethnic groups
the gender inequalities slightly
reduced.

Corona impact: How anxious did you feel yesterday?
Mid-March to Mid-May 12 month comparison by ethnicity
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
3.9 3.9 4.0
3.4 3.3
3.5
All 16+
White
British
White
Other
3.73.8
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
3.1
4.1
3.4
4.5 4.5
4.0
3.6
4.1
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
Mid-Mar to Mid-May, 12 month comparison by gender & ethnicity
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
4.6
4.6
4.3 4.3 4.3 4.5
4.7
4.4
3.9
4.0 4.1
3.5 3.4
3.7 3.7
3.4
3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.6
3.2 3.1
3.3
3.4
2.9 2.8
3.0
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
• During early lock-down, females were more anxious than males across all ethnic groups (mean scores
of 4.3, 3.5 respectively). Both scores were a significant increase from the previous year.
• Between Mid-March-Mid May 2020 anxiety increased significantly among White British and Black
people compared to the same period last year (1).
• The highest anxiety scores were found among females from Other Ethnic backgrounds and males
from Mixed Ethnic backgrounds. The lowest scores were given by White British males and males
from Other Ethnic backgrounds (2).
• Significant increases in anxiety were seen among White British and Mixed males and females from
White British, White Other and Black backgrounds compared to the same period last year.

Corona impact: How satisfied are you with life
nowadays?
Mid-March to Mid-May 12 month comparison by ethnicity
Mid-Mar to Mid-May, 12 month comparison by gender & ethnicity
7.4
7.2
7.0
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
7.1 7.1
7.2 7.2
6.9 6.9
6.7
6.9
7.1
6.6 6.6
6.5
6.2
6.4
7.3
7.2
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
7.17.2 7.3 7.3 7.1 7.3
6.7
7.0
6.6 6.9
6.46.7
7.1 7.1 7.17.0 7.27.1
7.1
6.7 6.76.8
7.2 7.07.2
5.9
6.06.2
7.37.4
6.0
5.8
5.6
All 16+
White
British
White
Other
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
• Life satisfaction mean scores were slightly higher among males than females during the early
part of lockdown (7.7, 7.0 respectively). There was no change from the same period in 2019.
• Overall there was little change in life satisfaction scores across all ethnic groups from the
previous year (1).
• Although the largest increase was seen among Black people this does not represent a
significant statistical change. A significant increase in life satisfaction, however, is noted among
Black females (rise of 1.26).

Corona impact: To what extent are the things you do
in life worthwhile?
Mid-March to Mid-May 12 month comparison by ethnicity
Mid-Mar to Mid-May, 12 month comparison by gender & ethnicity
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
7.3 7.3 7.4 7.3 7.3
7.1 7.0
6.7
7.2
7.9
6.7
6.3 6.3 6.5
7.6
7.2
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
7.3 7.3 7.4 7.4
7.0
7.3
6.87.0
8.0
7.4
6.5
5.9
7.6
7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5
7.2 7.3
6.9
7.1
6.7
7.0
7.9
7.1
6.7 6.66.5
7.97.8
1.0
0.0
All 16+
White
British
White
Other
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
• Males had only slightly higher mean scores for ‘worthwhile’ activity than females during early
lockdown (7.3, 7.2 respectively); this represents little change from the same period in 2019.
• The only notable change is among Black people where a rise of 0.73 in the mean score
represents a significant increase from the previous year.
• The highest scores where given by Black males and females and lowest by males and females
from Mixed ethnic backgrounds.
• Compared to the previous year, a significant increase is seen among Black females and a
significant decrease among Other White females.

Corona impact: How happy did you feel yesterday?
Mid-March to Mid-May 12 month comparison by ethnicity
Mid-Mar to Mid-May, 12 month comparison by gender & ethnicity
7.4
7.2
7.0
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6.0
5.8
7.1
7.2
6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9
6.8 6.8 6.8
6.7
6.6
6.1
6.4
6.3
7.3
7.1
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
7.27.1 7.37.1 6.97.1 6.76.9
7.4
7.4 7.1 7.2 7.0 6.9
6.4 6.6 6.8 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.6
6.2
6.9 7.1
6.9
6.3
6.46.2
7.5 7.5
5.6
5.4
All 16+
White
British
White
Other
Asian
(excl
Chinese)
Black Chinese Mixed Other
ethnic
group
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2019 Mid-Mar to Mid-May 2020
• During early lockdown males were generally happier than females across all ethnic groups (mean
scores of 7.1, 6.7 respectively). This represents a significant decrease from the previous year among
women.
• In Mid-March-Mid May 2020, a significant decrease in happiness (drop of 0.29) was only seen
among White British people compared to the same period last year (1).
• Significantly lower happiness levels were seen among White British and Black males and White
British females (2).
• Females from Other Ethnic groups had the highest happiness mean scores followed by White British
males. Lowest scores were given by females from Mixed ethnic backgrounds and Black males.

CONCLUSION
• As expected activity levels dropped and inactivity increased during the
national lockdown. However the lockdown had a disproportionately
negative impact on those from Asian, Black, Other ethnic and Chinese
backgrounds. Drops in activity levels (at least 150 mins a week) compared
to the same period in 2019 were larger amongst these groups - indicating
they've found it harder to find new ways to stay active.
• Drops in activity levels were larger for men from both Asian and Black
backgrounds. Therefore, whilst the overall inequalities increased, within
these ethnic groups the gender inequalities slightly reduced.
• 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.

RECOMMENDATIONS
• The impact of the pandemic presented significant challenges in engaging
communities that were already less active. The lockdown measures had
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.
• The need to work locally through community partners will be even more
important to not only understand the longer term impact of lockdown in
local communities but in the development of solutions and in their
implementation. Providers of sport and physical activity will need to
explore how provision can be made accessible in new ways to reach these
communities.

SPORTING EQUALS