Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll...

Transcription

1 Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll..... September 2009

2 Calling All Sports Fans An AARP Bulletin Poll Data Collected by ICR, Inc. Prepared by Teresa A. Keenan, Ph.D. and Collette E. Thayer, Ph.D. Copyright 2009 AARP Knowledge Management 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC Reprinting with Permission

3 AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do not necessarily represent official policies of AARP. Acknowledgements This work was done for the AARP Bulletin. We would like to thank Barbranda Walls and Jim Toedtman for their input. We would also like to thank International Communications Research, Inc. for collecting and tabulating the data. Collette Thayer designed the questionnaire; Teresa A. Keenan analyzed the data and wrote the report. For additional information contact Teresa Keenan at (202) Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll iii

4 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Background 2 Detailed Findings 2 Favorite Spectator Sport 2 Favorite Sporting Event 3 Favorite Living Professional Athlete 5 Current Level of Physical Activity 5 Favorite Type of Exercise 6 Amount of Exercise 7 Current Level of Physical Activity Relative to Five Years Ago 7 Appendix A: Annotated Questionnaire 8 Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll iv

5 List of Figures Figure 1: Top Tier Sporting Events 4 Figure 2: Current Level of Physical Activity 6 Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll v

6 Executive Summary In an effort to learn more about midlife and older adults athletic interests and behaviors, AARP Knowledge Management fielded a short telephone survey on behalf of The Bulletin among a nationally representative sample of adults ages 45 and older. They found: Football was the clear winner among respondents, with more than a quarter of them saying it was their favorite spectator sport. Baseball and NASCAR racing came in second and third place, with less than one-fifth of respondents mentioning them as their favorite spectator sport. Similarly, when asked about their favorite sporting event, football came in as the clear winner with more than one-quarter of respondents giving the nod to the NFL Super Bowl. Only the Olympics or Major League baseball were the remaining sporting events to garner double-digits. Tiger Woods was the only living professional athlete to be selected by at least ten percent of the respondents. One-third of respondents did not mention any one person as their favorite living professional athlete, perhaps suggesting the difficulty of picking a singular favorite. When asked about their own behavior, more than six in ten respondents said they have been physically active on a regular basis for a year or more, while one in twenty said they have been physically active on a regular basis for less than one year. In contrast, a full quarter of respondents said they don t currently engage in any regular physical activity. Among those who reported being physically active, more than four in ten said walking was their favorite type of exercise. Additionally, nearly six in ten active respondents said that they accumulate four hours or more per week of physical activity, while another quarter said they accumulate between two and four hours per week. Even though many respondents reported being physically active, only three in ten said their current level of activity is more than it was five years ago. Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 1

7 Background In August 2009, AARP Knowledge Management contracted with International Communications Research, Inc. (ICR) on behalf of The Bulletin to field a short telephone survey among a nationally representative sample of adults ages 45 and older to learn more about midlife and older adults athletic interests and behaviors 1. In this survey, respondents were asked their favorite spectator sport, favorite sporting event, favorite type of exercise, and favorite living professional athlete. They were also asked about their current levels of physical activity, their estimated weekly amount of physical activity, and an assessment if they are doing more or less physical activity than five years ago. Detailed Findings 2 Favorite Spectator Sport Football was the clear winner among respondents, with more than a quarter (27%) of them saying it was their favorite spectator sport. Another one in six (17%) reported that baseball was their favorite spectator sport, with one in ten (10%) selecting NASCAR auto racing. Less than one in ten respondents selected basketball (7%), golf (6%), swimming (4%), or soccer (3%) as their favorite, and only one percent of respondents said track and field, tennis, or volleyball were their favorite spectator sport. Notably, one in nine (11%) respondents said they had no favorite spectator sport. Respondents ages 65 and older were more likely to rate baseball as their favorite spectator sport, noted by one-quarter of them (24%) as compared to nearly onefifth (18%) of those ages and one in nine (11%) of those ages Women were more likely than men to select swimming as their favorite spectator sport (7% vs. 1%). Respondents with incomes between $25,000 and $49,999 were more likely than those with incomes of less than $25,000 to say football is their favorite spectator sport (36% vs. 20%). 1 At the conclusion of the fielding period, responses had been received from 510 individuals. The sampling error is +/- four percentage points at the 95% confidence level. This means that in 95 out of 100 samples of this size, the results would fall in a range of no more than four percentage points of what would have been obtained if every person age 45 or older had been surveyed. 2 Respondents in this study are ages 45 and over with roughly four in ten (39%) between the ages of 45-54, three in ten (30%) between the ages of and another three in ten (31%) ages 65+. Slightly more than half were women (52%) and slightly less than half were men (48%). Seven in ten (71%) are white, non-hispanic; about one in eight (13%) are black, non-hispanic; and one in eleven (9%) are Hispanic. Nearly half of respondents had a high school education or less (45%). Approximately one-quarter (28%) had some college, and approximately one-quarter (23%) had a college or post-graduate education. Two-thirds (65%) were not AARP members. Nearly three in ten (28%) have household incomes of less than $30,000 per year, while roughly one in seven (15%) have household incomes of $30,000-$49,999 per year. Fourteen percent reported an annual household income of $50,000-$74,999, while roughly one in six (17%) reported an annual household income of $75,000 or more. Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 2

8 Favorite Sporting Event Just as with their favorite spectator sport, when respondents were asked about their favorite sporting event, football came in as the clear winner with more than one-quarter (27%) of respondents giving the nod to the NFL Super Bowl. Only the Summer or Winter Olympics or Major League baseball were the remaining sporting events to garner doubledigits, with one in six (17%) respondents and one in ten (10%) respondents noting them as their favorite sports events (Figure 1). Roughly half as many respondents said that the NCAA basketball championship (6%), the NCAA college football bowl games (5%), or the Masters golf championship (5%) were their favorite sporting event. As with their favorite spectator sport, one in nine (11%) respondents said they didn t have a favorite sporting event. Respondents ages 65 or older are more likely than those under 65 years of age to select the Major League Baseball World Series as their favorite sporting event (17% vs. 6% and 6%). This is not surprising given their selection of baseball as their favorite spectator sport. They are also more likely than those between 45 and 54 years of age to say the Masters Golf Championship is their favorite sporting event (10% vs. 2%). Women are twice as likely as men to say the Summer or Winter Olympics are their favorite sporting event (23% vs. 10%) Respondents between 55 and 64 years of age are more likely than those ages 65 or older to say the NFL Super Bowl is their favorite sporting event (32% vs. 19%). Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 3

9 Figure 1 Top Tier Sporting Events (n=510) NFL Super Bowl 27% Summer or Winter Olympics 17% Major League Baseball World Series 10% NCAA Baskeball Championship 6% Masters Golf Championship 5% NCAA College Football Bowl Games 5% No favorite sporting event 11% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Calling All Sports Fans, September 2009 Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 4

10 Favorite Living Professional Athlete Tiger Woods was the only living professional athlete to be selected by at least ten percent of the respondents. One-third (34%) of respondents did not mention any one as their favorite living professional athlete 3. Current Level of Physical Activity More than six in ten (61%) respondents reported having been physically active on a regular basis for a year or more, while one in twenty (5%) said they have been physically active on a regular basis for less than one year (see Figure 2). One-quarter (25%) of respondents said they don t currently engage in regular physical activity, while one in fourteen (7%) reported planning to start in the next month (4%) or planning to start in the next six months (3%). While there are no gender differences in terms of current levels of physical activity, when looking at age differences, respondents ages 65 or older more likely than respondents who are younger than age 65 to say they don t currently engage in regular physical activity (38% vs. 16% for those and 24% for those 55-64). Additionally, those under age 65 are more likely than those ages 65 or older to say they plan to start some form of physical activity in the next month (6% for those and 4% for those vs. <1% for those 65+). Respondents between 45 and 54 years of age are more likely than those ages 65 or older to report being physically active on a regular basis for the last year or more (67% vs. 53%). When considering annual household income, respondents with incomes less than $25,000 are more likely than more affluent respondents to say they don t engage in regular physical activity (43% for those with incomes less than $25,000 vs. 29% for those with incomes between $25,000 and $49,999; 8% for those with incomes of $50,000 to $74,999; and 15% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more). On the other end of the income spectrum, respondents with annual household incomes of either $50,000 to $74,999 or $75,000 or more are more likely than those with incomes less than $25,000 to say they have been physically active on a regular basis for a year or longer (79% and 70% vs. 47%). 3 The complete list of athletes and the percentage of respondents who selected them as their favorite can be found in Appendix A. Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 5

11 Figure 2 Current Level of Physical Activity (n=510) Don't engage in physical activity 25% Don't Know/Refused 2% Are planning to start in next six months 3% Are planning to start in next month 4% Active for a year or longer 61% Active for less than a year 5% Source: Calling All Sports Fans, September 2009 Favorite Type of Exercise Among those who reported being physically active, more than four in ten (45%) said walking was their favorite type of exercise. Notably, no other exercise type was mentioned by more than one in twelve respondents 4. 4 The small number of respondents selecting any type of exercise as their favorite precludes determination of age, gender, or income differences in preference. Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 6

12 Amount of Exercise Of those who reported being physically active, nearly six in ten (57%) said that they accumulate four hours or more per week of physical activity. Another quarter (25%) said they accumulate between two and four hours per week, while roughly one in six said they accumulate between one-half hour to two hours (15%) or less than one-half hour (3%) of physical activity per week. Women are more likely than men to say they accumulate between two and four hours (35% vs. 15%) of physical activity in one week. Respondents with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more are more likely than those with incomes of less than $25,000 to say they accumulate four hours or more of physical activity per week (71% vs. 49%). Notably, there are no age differences in respondents reported amount of physical activity. Current Level of Physical Activity Relative to Five Years Ago More than six in ten (62%) respondents said their current level of physical activity is less than it was five years ago, while three in ten (30%) said the level is more than it was five years ago. While there are no gender differences in relative levels of physical activity, younger respondents are more likely than older ones to say their current level of physical activity is more than it was five years ago (38% for those and 31% for those vs. 19% for those 65+). Respondents with annual household incomes of less than $25,000 are more likely than more affluent ones to say their current level of physical activity is less than it was five years ago (84% vs. 52%, 55%, and 48%). Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 7

13 Appendix A: Annotated Questionnaire Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 8

14 Calling All Sports Fans (n=510 ages 45+) Q1. Which of the following is your favorite spectator sport? Baseball 17% Basketball 7% Football 27% Golf 6% Soccer 3% Track and field 1% NASCAR auto racing 10% Swimming 4% Tennis 1% Volleyball 1% Something else: 11% No favorite spectator sport 11% Don t Know/Refused 1% Q2. Which of the following is your favorite sporting event? The Summer or Winter Olympics 17% Major League Baseball s World Series 10% The Soccer World Cup 3% The NFL Super Bowl 27% The Masters Golf Championship 5% The PGA 1% The US Open or British Open golf tournaments 1% The NBA Finals 4% Wimbledon or the US Open, French Open, or Australian Open Tennis tournaments 1% NCAA college football bowl games 5% The NCAA Basketball championship 6% The Tour de France bicycle race 2% NASCAR 2% NHL Hockey Championship / Stanley Cup 1% Something else: 4% No favorite spectator sport 11% Don t Know/Refused 3% Q3. What is your current level of physical activity? Would you say? You don t currently engage in regular physical activity 25% You don t right now, but plan to start in the next month 4% You don t right now, but plan to start in the next six months 3% You have been physically active on a regular basis for less than a year 5% You have been physically active on a regular basis for the last year or more 61% Don t Know/Refused 3% Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 9

15 (Asked of total respondents ages 45+ who are physically active on a regular basis; n=341) Q4. What is your favorite type of exercise? (Do not read. Accept one response) Bicycling 5% Dancing/aerobic dancing 3% Elliptical machine/stair climber/ treadmill 3% Golf 3% Team sports (baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball) 3% Hiking 1% Running/jogging 6% Swimming/water aerobics 3% Tennis 1% Walking 45% Weight-lifting/weight training 8% Yoga 2% Gardening/working outdoors 2% Wii Fit 1% Other 9% Don t Know/Refused 3% (Asked of total respondents ages 45+ who are physically active on a regular basis; n=341) Q5. Please estimate how much physical activity you accumulate in one week. Do you accumulate? Less than one-half hour 3% Between one-half and two hours 15% Between two and four hours 25% Four hours or more 57% Q6. Is your current level of physical activity more or less than it was 5 years ago? More 30% Less 62% Don t Know/Refused 6% Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 10

16 Q7. Who is your favorite living professional athlete? (Open ended) AJ Foyt -- Albert Pujols * Arnold Palmer 1 Bart Starr * Billie Jean King -- Bret Favre 1 Cal Ripken 1 Chris Evert -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1 Derek Jeter 1 Hank Aaron * Jack Nicklaus 1 Jackie Joyner-Kersee -- Joe Namath * John Elway * John McEnroe -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar * Kobe Bryant 1 Lawrence Taylor -- Lebron James 1 Mark Spitz -- Martina Navratilova -- Michael Phelps 1 Muhammad Ali 1 Pele * Rafael Nadal -- Richard Petty -- Roger Clemmons * Roger Federer * Shaquille O Neill * Troy Aikman 1 Wayne Gretzky * Tiger Woods 10 Lance Armstrong 2 Michael Jordan 4 Payton Manning 1 Tony Romo 2 Other 21 No one 34 Don t Know/Refused 13 Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 11

17 Demographic Characteristics We re almost finished. I just have a few additional questions that I d like to ask for classification purposes. What is your age as of your last birthday? years % % % Are you male or female? Male 48% Female 52% Are you or your spouse or partner currently a member of AARP? Yes 35% No 65% Don t Know 1% What is your current marital status? Married 62% Widowed 14% Divorced 13% Separated 1% Single 11% What is the highest level of education that you completed? Less than high school 17% High school graduate 28% Some college or technical training beyond high school 28% College graduate 15% Post-graduate or professional degree 8% Which of the following best describes your current employment status? Employed or self-employed full-time 38% Employed or self-employed part-time 10% Retired and not working 32% Unemployed and looking for work 4% Other such as homemaker 6% Disabled/handicapped 9% What best describes your race? White, non-hispanic 71% Black, non-hispanic 13% Hispanic 9% Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 12

18 Households are sometimes grouped according to income. Please indicate which group best estimates your annual household income before taxes. (Check only one.) Less than $10,000 8% $10,000 to $19,999 10% $20,000 to $29,999 10% $30,000 to $39,999 7% $40,000 to $49,999 6% $50,000 to $74,999 14% $75,000 or more 17% Calling All Sports Fans: An AARP Bulletin Poll 13