Does sports club participation contribute to health-related quality of life?
Given the social nature of participation in sport, we hypothesized that club sports participants would have greater well-being and quality of life than participants in other forms of physical activity (PA).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine health-related quality of life and life satisfaction in women who participate in three contrasting forms of PA: club sport, gym activities, and walking.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of the relationship between type of PA setting and measures of health-related quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) and life satisfaction in 818 women living in rural Victoria, Australia, in 2007. Data were also compared with those from a normative sample of 2345 women.


RESULTS
After adjustment for potential confounders (age, education, marital status, children aged <16 yr, perceived financial stress, and level of recreational PA), four of the eight SF-36 subscales, the SF-36 mental health component summary score, and life satisfaction were significantly higher in the club sport group than that in the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although cross-sectional research cannot establish causal links, the results suggest that participation in club sport may enhance the health benefits of PA.
Eime
Rochelle M
RM
School of Human Movement and Sport Sciences, University of Ballarat, Ballarat, Australia.
Harvey
Jack T
JT
Brown
Wendy J
WJ
Payne
Warren R
WR
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D013177:Sports; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult