A comparative study of women's sports participation in Golestan province

Attention to the health of women as half of the population, which constitute an important part of the workforce and the important duty of childbearing, is of great importance. Accordingly, women's participation in sports activities is one of the most important ways of providing mental and physical health.The aim of this study was to make a comparative study of women's sports participation in the province and to analyze the role of cultural differences in women's sports participation. The present study is a descriptive-correlational inquiry based on survey method and data collection technique is researcher-made questionnaire.The statistical population of the research is all 15-50 years old women in rural and urban areas of the province based on the census of 1395. The sample size is 600 people. The sampling method is a multi-stage clustering method. For analysis of data, statistical tests such as T-Student and Lambda tests were used. Findings of the research show that in general, women's sport participation rate is low. The quality of sport participation is more informal and irregular sporting activities than in the form of a formal regular program. In the topic of encouraging sports activities, women received this encouragement as the most frequent members of their families, friends, neighbors and relatives. Also based on respondents' statements, the impact of the shortage of infrastructure facilities and difference in distribution of spaces and sports facilities in the province on sport activities statistically in 95% level are significant.