Social Life & Sport (OCR GCSE Physical Education (PE)): Revision Note

Exam code: J587

Emma Mulhern

Written by: Emma Mulhern

Reviewed by: Ruth Brindle

Updated on

Social impact of partaking in physical activity

  • Participating in exercise and sport is one of the most effective ways to boost social health

  • A sedentary lifestyle can result in a person not going out very much and not meeting new people meaning their friendships suffer 

  • Participation in sports teams, clubs or gym classes provides a structured way to meet people.

    • Sedentary individuals miss out on the sense of togetherness that comes from belonging to a group 

  • A sedentary lifestyle often leads to social isolation. Over time, this lack of meaningful face-to-face contact can result in loneliness 

    • This can really impact the emotional health of a person as a low mood from loneliness leads to further inactivity and further isolation 

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Different age groups are affected in different ways so be prepared to apply your knowledge for example:

  • School age (0-18 years): This is the easiest time to gain the physical and social benefits from physical activity and sport as you have much more free time and access to greater opportunities e.g. weekly physical education lessons and sports clubs

  • Working age (19-64 years): There is a reduction in leisure time (free time) due to work commitments and possibly having family commitments which means less time to be physically active. This can lead to greater emotional and social consequences due to inactivity

  • Elderly (65+): There are fewer opportunities to participate which can significantly increase loneliness. Self confidence can also be a barrier to participation at this age

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Emma Mulhern

Author: Emma Mulhern

Expertise: Content Writer

Emma is currently Head of Physical Education at her school, with over 14 years’ experience in education, specialising in GCSE and A-level teaching across multiple exam boards. Alongside her teaching, she has worked as an examiner at both GCSE and A-level, giving her a detailed understanding of assessment criteria and what students need to succeed. This insight enables her to support students in mastering key content and exam technique, helping them maximise their potential and achieve outstanding results.

Ruth Brindle

Reviewer: Ruth Brindle

Expertise: Biology Content Creator

Ruth graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in Biology and went on to teach Science in London whilst also completing an MA in innovation in Education. With 10 years of teaching experience across the 3 key science disciplines, Ruth decided to set up a tutoring business to support students in her local area. Ruth has worked with several exam boards and loves to use her experience to produce educational materials which make the mark schemes accessible to all students.