Meanings attributed to the practice of physical activity, physical exercise and sport as a means of configuration of social networks and citizen participation

Abstract

The present research aimed to investigate the meanings that the inhabitants of the Juan Pablo Segundo population give to the practice of physical activity, physical exercise and sport in public spaces as a means of setting up social networks and promoting citizen participation. For the purposes of this research, the qualitative methodology was used, from a phenomenological perspective. It was worked through in-depth interviews that were applied to typical settlers and emblematic characters of the Juan Pablo Segundo population, located in the Concepcion commune. These interviews were reasoned through content analysis, using the computer tool Atlas ti 6.0 for data analysis. The results showed that there are multiple factors, both facilitators and obstacles to the practice of physical activity, physical exercise and sport in public spaces, making this practice a condition that allows promoting citizen participation, in turn it is a powerful mechanism that facilitates participation. Favorable interaction between people who share common interests, generating true social networks that ultimately contribute to guaranteeing social cohesion, contributing positively to associative processes, thus promoting citizen participation.