Self-Defined Gender Identities and Physical Activity Among Men and Women in Europe

To study how self-perceptions of masculinity and femininity are associated with physical activity levels among men and women in Europe.

We analyzed data from the European Social Survey conducted between 2023 and 2024 (n = 37,675). Perceptions of masculinity and femininity were measured using a self-rating scale ranging from "0 = not at all masculine/feminine" to "6 = very masculine/feminine." Multilevel regressions were used to estimate the number of days exercised in the past week.

Variations in physical activity were greater within each gender, depending on perceived masculine and feminine traits, than between men and women. Overall, women reported exercising 3.21 days in the past week (95% CI, 3.21-3.22), while men reported 3.41 days (95% CI, 3.40-3.42). Women who identified as very masculine reported the highest exercise frequency (3.55; 95% CI, 3.45-3.64). The lowest was observed among women with low perceived femininity (2.74; 95% CI, 2.60-2.88). Among men, the highest was observed among those with moderate perceived femininity (3.53; 95% CI, 3.51-3.56), while the lowest was among those with low perceived masculinity (2.96; 95% CI, 2.50-3.77).

Men who perceived moderate levels of femininity and women who perceived moderate to high levels of masculinity showed the highest levels of physical activity. Individuals performing and expressing gender identities may be a motivating factor for physical activity.