Data released by children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust shows a confidence crisis in girls is stopping them from getting active from as young as the age of seven.
The research involved 5,454 boys and girls aged 7 to 11-years-old across England. It shows that even in primary school, almost twice as many girls as boys report that a lack of confidence stops them being active in school.
The latest research shows a correlation between levels of confidence and levels of physical activity with the least active girls most likely to be affected by lack of confidence. Among less active girls, 32% said confidence was an issue preventing them from being activity.
The study was carried out through the Girls Active programme, which is developed by the charity and delivered in partnership with This Girl Can and Women in Sport. The programme is funded by Sport England through the National Lottery and delivered in over 450 schools.