Relationship between Social Capital and Participation in Sports Activities (Case: Womens in Gorgan)

The main objective of this study was to investigate the understanding of relationship between social capital and participation in sports activities. The study was descriptive and methods of data collection and field measurement tool were made by the researcher as questionnaires. The population of the study, all women over 18 years old and lived in Iran, was 164, 535 people. The sample size was determined using Cochran formula, 415 samples were selected using a multistage cluster sampling. The results show that all aspects of social capital (formal membership, participation in formal, informal institutional trust and participation) but variable (interpersonal trust) with exercise participation were confirmed. And women's participation in sports activities, age, marital status, number of children (both girls and boys), parent's education level, father's occupation, place of residence in the city (district) and the use of mass media (other than local TV) there was no significant difference Sports participation rate of women in variables such as employment status, occupation, income, type of residence, maternal occupation and residential area did not show significant differences , but Sports participation rate of women in variables such as employment status, occupation, income, type of residence, maternal occupation and residential area did not show significant differences. The results showed that in general, women with higher social capital increase participation in sport activities and vice versa. The overall result is consistent with the results of other studies in this field. Based on the results, recommendations are made to improve women's participation in sports.