Asics has released the results of a new global study on the gender exercise gap, which aims to explore women’s exercise levels and their mental wellbeing.
Commissioned by Asics and independently led by Dr. Dee Dlugonski, assistant professor at Sports Medicine Research Institute at the University of Kentucky, and Brendon Stubbs, associate professor at King’s College London, the study found that over half of women globally are dropping out or stopping exercise completely, which may negatively impact their state of mind.
Released a week before International Women’s Day, the global study of 24,959 people revealed that over half of women are unhappy with their exercise levels. All women are experiencing barriers to exercise throughout their lifetime, from time pressures (74 percent) and low self-confidence (35 percent) to intimidating environments (44 percent) or not feeling sporty enough (42 percent), the study showed.
What’s more, the study found that almost two-thirds (61 percent) of mothers cited motherhood as the primary reason they dropped out of doing regular exercise or sport altogether, showing the impact that caregiving responsibilities are having on women’s activity levels. Focus group participants frequently described how societal expectations about gender roles, including that women should bear the majority of family caregiving, and household responsibilities played a major part in them stopping exercise, Asics said.
In comparison, findings saw that men’s perceptions of the challenges women face were different to the reality. Only 34 percent of men recognized lack of time as a barrier to exercise for women, despite three-quarters (74 percent) of women citing the issue. Instead, men thought body insecurities were the leading problem, with 58 percent of men reporting this as the main barrier, compared to 36 percent of women.
Despite this, the study found that over a third of women say their friends are their most important exercise influencers, noting that they’re more motivated to exercise by women like themselves, rather than celebrities. Parents and romantic partners were also influential, showing that both genders can have an impact on women’s participation in sport. When asked why they would exercise, women universally said for their mental (92 percent) and physical (96 percent) wellbeing rather than aesthetics.
“Our study showed that the gender exercise gap is a complex challenge which did not develop overnight,” Dr. Dlugonski said in a statement. “Given it has no sole cause, it will not be solved with one single solution, but when asked what could help, women noted that making movement more accessible, inclusive and recognized in all forms, while challenging society’s gendered expectations, would support them in moving more.”
“This includes making exercise centered around women and their needs,” Dr. Dlugonski added. “From providing childcare and catering for all activity levels, to fitting around work, being fun, affordable, safe, welcoming and judgement-free. All these solutions, while small, can have a significant impact and through this study we identified thousands of individuals and organizations around the world who are already driving change.”
In response to the results of this survey, Asics is recognizing and amplifying the positive impact of individuals and grassroots organizations who are breaking barriers for women in sport with the launch of the new “Move Her Mind” initiative. The campaign includes Tenia Fisher and Asia Rawls, two of Asics North America’s Sound Mind, Sound Body ambassadors.
“Asics was founded on the belief that sport and exercise benefit the body and the mind,” Tomoko Koda, managing executive officer for Asics, added. “It’s why we’re called Asics: ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ or ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’. While our study found that many women are not happy with their exercise levels, it also uncovered the tremendous impact that individuals and grassroots organizations are having in helping women to move.”
