Harnessing machine learning to investigate the socio-demographic determinants of sports habits in Italy

Fabrizio Antolini (), Samuele Cesarini () and Ivan Terraglia ()
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Fabrizio Antolini: University of Teramo
Samuele Cesarini: University of Teramo
Ivan Terraglia: University of Teramo

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2025, vol. 59, issue 3, No 14, 2229-2252

Abstract: Abstract This study leverages machine learning techniques to explore the socio-demographic determinants that influence sports habits among the Italian population. Through the use of data from the ‘Aspects of Daily Life’ survey conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics, with reference to the latest available year, 2021, this work investigates how different socio-demographic factors, such as age, gender, education, marital status and regional disparities, affect individuals’ participation in sports activities. By employing an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model, renowned for its predictive accuracy and efficiency, this work identifies the most significant predictors of sports habits. The interpretation of the model is further enriched by SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values, thus providing a detailed understanding of the impact of each socio-demographic variable on the likelihood of engaging in regular sport activities. This approach not only highlights the critical factors but also underscores the potential for implementing targeted interventions to promote physical activity across various demographic groups in Italy.

Keywords: Machine learning; Sport habits; Socio-demographic determinants; Lifestyle; Extreme gradient boosting; SHAP values (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11135-025-02148-0

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