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Implementing a free lending of sports and leisure equipment service: A cross-sectional survey exploring user characteristics, utilization patterns, and significance among children and youth
Karlstad University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (starting 2013), Department of Educational Studies (from 2013).ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8256-922x
Karlstad University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (starting 2013), Department of Educational Studies (from 2013).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0311-7979
Karlstad University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (starting 2013), Department of Educational Studies (from 2013).
2024 (English)In: BMC Public Health, E-ISSN 1471-2458, Vol. 24, no 1, article id 1826Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: The escalating costs of sports equipment, coupled with socioeconomic disparities, hinder children’s participation in physical activities. The Leisure Equipment Library (LEL), a unique service in Sweden, addresses this challenge by providing free equipment lending. This study investigated the significance of providing free lending of sports and recreational equipment for children’s and youth’s opportunities to engage in physical activities during leisure time. Method: Utilizing a cross-sectional survey during the summer-2022 period, the study is based on data from 427 LEL users aged 7 to 25 years. User characteristics (demography, socioeconomic status, physical activity profiles), equipment usage patterns and perceived significance are also analyzed. The findings are discussed using the concept of consumer-brand identification. Results: The results showed that LEL reaches a broad and diverse group of children and young people in terms of gender, age, socioeconomic status, and physical activity profile. The borrowed equipment, primarily used for play and recreation, serves as an essential resource for children and youths and, in particular, for those with low socioeconomic status. LEL is considered highly important by all user groups, with a majority emphasizing its significance in facilitating leisure activities. Conclusions: The study suggests LEL’s success lies in its accessibility and that users identify with the brand of LEL. Users perceive LEL as a service catering to various recreational needs rather than sports, fostering inclusivity. The localization of stores in various types of areas, combined with high-quality products, enable children and young people from different socioeconomic areas to use the service. LEL’s success hinges on maintaining a positive brand image and promoting a recreation-oriented identity. Opportunities exist to strengthen emotional bonds with users, enhance branding strategies, and position LEL as a valuable resource for inclusive recreational activities. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of free lending services, such as LEL, to bridge socioeconomic gaps in the promotion of physical activity among children and young people.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BioMed Central (BMC), 2024. Vol. 24, no 1, article id 1826
Keywords [en]
Brand identification, Equipment lending, Nonprofit initiatives, Socioeconomic disparities, Sports equipment, Youth physical activity, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Exercise, Female, Humans, Leisure Activities, Male, Sports, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sweden, Young Adult, cross-sectional study, human, leisure, psychology, questionnaire, sport
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Sports Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-101205DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19339-3ISI: 001270737600003PubMedID: 38982320Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85197784886OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-101205DiVA, id: diva2:1885378
Funder
Karlstad UniversityAvailable from: 2024-07-23 Created: 2024-07-23 Last updated: 2024-08-06Bibliographically approved

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Högman, JohanWagnsson, Stefan

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