Background: Adopting new measures taken by policy makers promoting physical activities and exercise in different societies prompted us to assess the effect of behavioral interventions and economics on participation in physical activities.
Methods: The present study was correlational. The required information was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. Its content validity was confirmed by 9 experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained using Cronbach's alpha coefficient in the active individuals’ section of 0.78 and in the inactive individuals’ section of 0.74. The statistical population of the present study included all individuals who were not physically or medically restricted from participating in physical activities; 1659 people answered the questionnaires and finally 1401 questionnaires were the basis of statistical analysis. STATA16 software was used for statistical analysis of variables and estimation of research model parameters.
Results: The results in the inactive section showed that physicians alone as well as physicians prescribing sports, expensive costs and increased working time had a positive and significant effect on the decision to participate in physical activities. In active people, doctor's advice along with increasing sports costs and reducing income had a significant negative effect on the decision to participate in physical activities.
Conclusion: In general, those advocating sports and physical activities for development are advised to pay attention and take into account individual differences in incomes when formulating executive plans.