Providing a Model of Factors Influencing Women Dropping Out of Sport Activities by DEMATEL Technique

The aim of this study was to develop a model of factors influencing women dropping out of sport activities by DEMATEL technique. The present study was applied conducted by exploratory mixed method in qualitative and quantitative stages. In the qualitative stage, the statistical sample included 33 women from the whole country who had left their organized sport activities for at least one year and were selected through purposive sampling method. In the quantitative stage, the statistical sample considered of 15 women sport authorities, sport sciences experts with at least 5 years of coaching experience and university sport management professors who were selected by purposive sampling method. The data in the qualitative part was collected by semi-structured interviews and a researcher-made questionnaire was used in the quantitative part and its factors were extracted through a qualitative study. The results of the obtained model showed that the environmental factors and management factors were influencers (cause) and individual factors, interpersonal factors and service quality were influencees (effect). The results also showed that individual factors were the major problem for women dropout of sport activities, and management and slightly environmental factors can help solve individual factors.