The Influence of Micro and Macro Level on Sports Participation Using Multilevel Modeling

The purpose of this study was the influence of micro and macro level indicators on sports participation. This practical study has been implemented through applied field method. The first statistical population was all the 99 gyms, swimming pools and stadiums that belong to Ahvaz Department of Sport and Youth and other governmental offices. The second statistical population was 66135 individuals who use the sport facilities. The statistical sample of both populations, were selected among 86 sport arenas and 384 individuals by using Morgan table. Data collecting method was researcher’s questionnaire. Regression model with random coefficients was used for analysing data and testing hypotheses from descriptive statistics and inferential statistical and ANOVA model with random effects was used in HLM6 software. The results showed that at the micro-level related to sport infrastructures, the elements such as information and services, healthcare and maintenance, parking design, aesthetic, safety, control and monitoring, proximity and positioning, access to sport complex affect people’s sports participation. At the individual indicators of micro level, respectively, income, education level and at the macro-level, swimming pool and multipurpose gym are the most important variables for participation. Generally speaking, according to the findings, at the macro-level by improving sports infrastructure and at the micro-level by increasing education and income levels, sports participation will be increased­.