Coping with Poverty and Social Exclusion: Promoting Capabilities Through Long‐Term Sports Participation

Abstract

Poverty and social exclusion (PaSE) are multifaceted challenges that affect individuals across all stages of life, manifesting as financial deprivation, health inequities, and restricted access to social and economic opportunities. Sports participation offers a promising avenue to mitigate these challenges, providing access to health benefits, social connections, and life skills. This study contributes to the limited body of research on sports programmes for adults affected by PaSE by investigating how long‐term participation in a low‐threshold and diverse sports programme supports them in navigating and coping with their challenges. Drawing on Amartya Sen's capability approach (CA) as a theoretical framework, biographical‐narrative interviews were conducted with 16 adults who participated in the sports activities of a voluntary sports club (VSC) in Southern Germany for at least one year. The thematic analysis identified three key capabilities fostered through participation: the capability for better coping with daily life, the capability for group belonging and social confidence, and the capability to actively shape physical and mental changes. Crucial conversion factors - such as flexible participation options, reliable programme structures, and a supportive group culture - played a pivotal role in enabling these capabilities and achieving related functionings. By identifying the mechanisms through which the sports programme fosters inclusion and well‐being, this study provides deeper insights of how sports programmes can address the complex needs of individuals experiencing PaSE. These findings provide actionable insights for the design of inclusive and long‐term sports programmes that empower participants to achieve meaningful and self‐determined outcomes.