Project – Recreational Sports Participation and Social Connectedness among Young Adults: A Study of Members of Selected Fitness Centres in Abuja

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Young adulthood is an important stage of human development characterised by changes in social relationships, education, employment, family responsibilities, lifestyle and personal identity. During this period, individuals often establish new social networks as they transition from adolescence into adult roles. Participation in recreational activities can provide opportunities for interaction, friendship formation and social engagement while also supporting physical and psychological well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) recognises physical activity undertaken during leisure and recreation, including games, sports and planned exercise, as an important component of healthy living among adults. The WHO recommends that adults undertake regular physical activity because it provides benefits for physical and mental health, including improved mental well-being, cognitive health and sleep.

Recreational sports constitute an important form of leisure-time physical activity because they combine exercise with opportunities for enjoyment, interaction and participation. Unlike physical activity performed solely for occupational or health purposes, recreational sports may involve individual exercise, group fitness activities, games, running, swimming, cycling, aerobics and other organised or informal sporting activities. Eime et al. (2013), in a systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of sport participation among adults, found evidence of well-being and psychosocial benefits associated with sport participation and noted that club-based and team-based sports may provide additional benefits because of their social nature. The authors explained that the social environment surrounding sports can contribute to interaction, social integration and psychological well-being. Therefore, recreational sports may serve not only as a means of maintaining physical fitness but also as a social environment in which young adults can develop and maintain interpersonal relationships.

Social connectedness refers broadly to the degree to which individuals experience meaningful relationships, belonging, interaction and connection with other people and social groups. It is an important component of social well-being because individuals require supportive relationships and a sense of belonging to function effectively within society. Plackett et al. (2024), in a systematic review of measures of social connectedness among adults, identified social connectedness as a multidimensional concept that overlaps with domains such as social support, loneliness, relationships and interpersonal connection. The review also demonstrated that social connectedness is increasingly recognised as an important area of public-health research. For young adults, the development and maintenance of meaningful social connections can be particularly important because this life stage involves changing friendship networks, educational or occupational transitions and increasing independence from the family environment.

The relationship between physical activity and social relationships has also received increasing scholarly attention. Prochnow and Patterson (2022), in a systematic review of adult physical activity studies using social network analysis, examined 28 studies and found that characteristics of people’s social networks, including network size, composition, homophily and exposure to physical activity, were associated with individual physical activity behaviour. Their review further showed that social relationships can influence physical activity behaviour and that longitudinal and intervention research points to complex processes of social influence. This suggests that the relationship between recreational sports and social connectedness may operate in both directions: individuals may participate in sports because of existing social relationships, while participation may also create additional opportunities for interaction and connection with other people.

Sport participation may be particularly relevant to social connectedness because many recreational sports activities are conducted in settings where individuals interact repeatedly with peers, instructors, trainers and other participants. The systematic review by Eime et al. (2013) reported that sport participation can produce social and psychological benefits and that club- and team-based activities may offer advantages associated with their social character. More recently, Vella et al. (2023), in an updated systematic review of sport participation and mental health and social outcomes among adults, reported that sport is typically more social than several other forms of physical activity and can involve social connectedness, social support, peer bonding and club support. These findings provide a basis for examining whether recreational sports participation within fitness-centre environments can provide young adults with opportunities to develop friendships, peer support and a sense of belonging.

The fitness-centre environment provides a distinctive setting for recreational sports participation because participants may repeatedly encounter the same people while engaging in structured or semi-structured physical activities. Regular attendance can create opportunities for communication, cooperation, encouragement, informal interaction and the formation of friendships. Research on young adults involved in sports clubs has found that participants reported social connectedness, fellowship and deeper relationships with peers, while the social environment of the club contributed to feelings of belonging and continued participation. Similarly, Hoye, Nicholson and Brown (2015) found that involvement in sporting organisations was associated with increased social connectedness and reported that sport involvement was a predictor of social connectedness in their study. Thus, fitness centres may function not merely as locations for physical exercise but also as social environments in which young adults interact and establish social relationships.

In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, fitness centres and recreational facilities provide opportunities for young adults to participate in exercise, fitness programmes and other recreational activities. Abuja’s urban character, growing population, employment opportunities and expanding lifestyle and leisure culture make recreational spaces relevant to the social lives of young adults. The importance of examining this setting is strengthened by international evidence indicating that physical activity can have social as well as physical and psychological dimensions. The WHO (2020) emphasises that physical activity can occur through recreation, leisure, sports and planned exercise, while Vella et al. (2023) identify social connectedness, social support and peer bonding among the social outcomes associated with sports participation. However, existing evidence does not establish that every type or level of recreational participation automatically produces stronger social connectedness. Consequently, there is a need to investigate the issue within a specific Nigerian urban context. This study therefore focuses on recreational sports participation and social connectedness among young adults who are members of selected fitness centres in Abuja.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Social connectedness is an important aspect of young adults’ well-being because meaningful interpersonal relationships can provide companionship, support, belonging and opportunities for social participation. However, young adults may experience changes in their social networks as a result of educational transitions, employment, relocation, changing family structures and increasing personal independence. The importance of social connectedness has been highlighted in recent public-health research, with Plackett et al. (2024) identifying social connectedness as a significant area of adult health research and documenting its relationship with concepts such as social support and loneliness. Despite the importance of social relationships, participation in recreational activities cannot automatically be assumed to produce meaningful social connections. The nature, frequency and social environment of participation may influence whether individuals merely exercise alongside others or actually develop meaningful interpersonal relationships.

A second problem concerns the extent to which recreational sports participation provides opportunities for genuine social interaction. Although sport is often considered a social activity, the experience may vary according to whether individuals participate individually, in groups, in classes or through organised sporting activities. Vella et al. (2023) found that sport is generally more social than many other forms of physical activity and identified social connectedness, social support, peer bonding and club support among relevant social outcomes. However, the same review also emphasised the need for further research into the mechanisms through which sports participation produces social outcomes. Therefore, it remains necessary to examine whether participation in recreational sports among young adults in fitness-centre settings is associated with specific dimensions of social connectedness such as interpersonal interaction, friendship development, social support and sense of belonging.

A third problem relates to the pattern and intensity of recreational sports participation. Young adults may differ in how frequently they visit fitness centres, how long they participate in recreational activities and whether they participate individually or in group-based activities. Prochnow and Patterson (2022) found that social-network characteristics were associated with adult physical activity behaviour, suggesting that physical activity is embedded within social environments rather than being solely an individual behaviour. Similarly, evidence from sport-club research among young adults indicates that friendship, fellowship, belonging and supportive relationships can contribute to continued participation in sporting environments. Nevertheless, there is insufficient context-specific evidence concerning how different patterns of recreational sports participation relate to social connectedness among young adults using fitness centres in Abuja.

Finally, there is an empirical and geographical gap that this study seeks to address. Existing international studies have established important relationships between sport, physical activity, social networks and social connectedness, while systematic reviews have documented social outcomes associated with adult sport participation. However, findings from studies conducted in other countries cannot simply be generalised to young adults in Abuja because social norms, recreational cultures, fitness-centre environments, economic conditions and patterns of interpersonal interaction may differ. There is therefore a need for empirical evidence from selected fitness centres in Abuja concerning whether participation in recreational sports is associated with interpersonal interaction, friendship development, social support and sense of belonging among young adults. This study is designed to provide evidence that can help clarify the relationship between recreational sports participation and social connectedness within this specific population and setting.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between recreational sports participation and social connectedness among young adults who are members of selected fitness centres in Abuja.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. examine the relationship between frequency of recreational sports participation and interpersonal interaction among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja;
2. determine the relationship between duration of recreational sports participation and friendship development among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja;
3. assess the relationship between participation in group-based recreational sports and social support among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja; and
4. examine the relationship between regularity of recreational sports participation and sense of belonging among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What is the relationship between frequency of recreational sports participation and interpersonal interaction among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja?
2. What is the relationship between duration of recreational sports participation and friendship development among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja?
3. What is the relationship between participation in group-based recreational sports and social support among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja?
4. What is the relationship between regularity of recreational sports participation and sense of belonging among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between recreational sports participation and social connectedness among young adults in selected fitness centres in Abuja.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to young adults because it will provide greater understanding of the possible social dimensions of recreational sports participation. The findings may help young adults appreciate recreational sports not only as activities for physical fitness but also as possible avenues for social interaction, friendship, support and belonging.

The study will also be useful to fitness-centre managers and instructors. Findings may provide information on how the organisation of recreational activities, group sessions and social programmes relates to the social experiences of members. Such information may assist fitness-centre managers in developing environments that encourage positive interaction among members.

The study will be beneficial to health and physical-activity practitioners. The WHO (2020) recommends regular physical activity for adults and recognises recreation, sports and planned exercise as important forms of physical activity. Evidence concerning the social dimension of participation may therefore help practitioners consider social connectedness alongside physical-health outcomes when promoting recreational physical activity among young adults.

The study will also be relevant to government agencies, urban planners and recreation policymakers concerned with youth development, healthy lifestyles and recreational facilities. Evidence from the study may provide useful information for planning recreational environments that support both physical activity and positive social interaction among young adults.

Finally, the study will contribute to academic literature by providing context-specific evidence concerning recreational sports participation and social connectedness among young adults in Abuja. It may serve as a reference for researchers conducting further studies on sports participation, social relationships, youth well-being, fitness-centre participation and recreational activities in Nigeria.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on recreational sports participation and social connectedness among young adults who are members of selected fitness centres in Abuja.

The geographical scope of the study is limited to selected fitness centres located within Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. The population of interest comprises young adults who are members or regular users of the selected fitness centres.

The independent variable is recreational sports participation, measured through frequency of participation, duration of participation, participation in group-based recreational sports and regularity of participation. The dependent variable is social connectedness, measured through interpersonal interaction, friendship development, social support and sense of belonging.

The study does not cover professional athletes or competitive elite sports participants as its primary population. It is concerned with recreational participation undertaken primarily for leisure, fitness, enjoyment, social interaction and general well-being.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Recreational Sports: Physical or sporting activities undertaken primarily for leisure, enjoyment, fitness, relaxation and social interaction rather than primarily for professional competition.

Recreational Sports Participation: The extent to which an individual takes part in sports or physical recreational activities, including the frequency, duration, regularity and social form of participation.

Social Connectedness: The extent to which an individual experiences meaningful relationships, interaction, support, belonging and connection with other people or social groups.

Young Adults: Individuals within the young-adult stage of life who fall within the age range specified by the study’s inclusion criteria.

Fitness Centre: A facility where individuals participate in organised or self-directed physical exercise, fitness training and recreational activities.

Frequency of Participation: The number of times a young adult participates in recreational sports or related fitness activities within a specified period.

Duration of Participation: The amount of time spent participating in recreational sports or fitness activities during each session or across a specified period.

Group-Based Recreational Sports: Recreational sporting or fitness activities performed with two or more participants in a shared activity or organised group setting.

Interpersonal Interaction: Communication, contact and social engagement between young adults and other individuals within or outside the fitness-centre environment.

Friendship Development: The formation and strengthening of voluntary interpersonal relationships characterised by companionship, mutual interaction and shared interests.

Social Support: Emotional, informational, practical or companionship-based assistance received from other people within an individual’s social network.

Sense of Belonging: The feeling that one is accepted, valued, included and connected to a particular social group or community.

Project – Recreational Sports Participation and Social Connectedness among Young Adults: A Study of Members of Selected Fitness Centres in Abuja