The relation between sport participation and the value preferences of Hungarian youth

The critically low participation rates in physical activities, together with the declining participation rates in organized, club-based sports, among Hungarian youth calls for a deeper analysis of changes related to sport following the political transition in 1989–1990. This study examines differences in value preferences between young Hungarian sport participants and non-participants, as well as the role of demographic and social variables, sport participation and the form of sport participation, in the transfer of values. The investigation method was a secondary analysis of a national survey of youth (N = 8000), with subjects aged between 15 and 29. Data analysis was based on multi-dimensional statistical methodology. It was found that participation in sports was negatively correlated with the importance given to materialistic values; however, participation was not positively correlated with non-materialistic values. The newly formulated group of ‘open’ values (true friendship, creativity, free time, di...