Gender differences in the habits of physical activity of the adult population in the Community of Madrid

The purpose of this study was to contrast the hypothesis of an existence of two differents sport cultures in adult population, feminine and masculine, through the analysis of practice level (type of demand), the activities practiced and their characteristics (weekly frecuency, monthly expenses, space and type of organization). The quantitative methodology has consisted of the application of a questionnaire constructed to a random sample of adult persons between 30 and 64 years old (n=340; 50.3% women, 49.7% men) of the Community of Madrid. The conclusions reveal that 45.3% of men and 34.8% practiced sport; in addition other 15.5% of women and 11.7% of men walks for exercise. There are gender differences in the practiced activities (x(2)(10)=46.83; p<.001; CC=.442), in the number of hour of practice (t191=2.29; p<.05; d=.33), in the monthly expense (t148=3.16; p<.001; d=. 69), like in the way of coming to the activity (x2(7)=27.44; p<.001; CC=.359), although the practice of self-organized activities is majority in both sexes (80.3% men, 63.7% women), mainly in solitary (62.7% men, 50.5% women) in outdoor spaces (60.4% men, 46.6% women).