Socioeconomic and Cultural Determinants of Female Students’ Attitudes Toward Sports and Recreational Tourism: An Empirical Study in Secondary Schools of Laghouat, Algeria

This research investigates the role of family cultural and economic capital in shaping the attitudes of secondary school girls toward participation in sports and recreational tourism activities in Laghouat, Algeria.Grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's theory of social and cultural capital, the study explores how familial educational background, parental occupation, and socioeconomic conditions influence young women's perceptions of sports as a form of leisure, self-development, and social inclusion.Using a quantitative survey method supported by descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, data were collected from 300 secondary school girls across different educational institutions in the region.The study identifies significant correlations between parental education, family income, and students' engagement levels in sports and tourism-related activities.Results suggest that families with higher cultural and economic resources foster more positive attitudes toward physical and sports engagement, reflecting greater awareness of its psychological, health, and social benefits.Conversely, limited resources and conservative family norms often restrict girls' participation, revealing a sociocultural barrier to gender equality in sports and leisure sectors.The findings underscore the importance of strengthening familyoriented cultural awareness programs and school-based sports promotion initiatives to enhance female participation.This study contributes to the growing body of sociological literature on gender, sport, and leisure in the Arab-Maghreb context and provides actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and sports institutions aiming to promote inclusivity and social development through physical activity.