Contribution of taking part in sport to the association between physical activity and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of sport to the association between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL).


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were gathered on 4,909 subjects (age 15-69) from the French National Barometer 2005 survey. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) were administered. An additional question was used to assess sporting activity. All analyses used linear regression models and were adjusted on variables associated with QoL in a general population.


RESULTS
The mean age of the participants (both men and women) decreased with increasing PA level. Sport was positively associated with QoL among men (β range from 4.2 [95 % CI 3.1-5.4] for physical health to 2.4 [95 % CI 1.1-3.8] for social relationship domains) and women (β range from 3.6 [95 % CI 2.6-4.5] for physical health to 1.6 [95 % CI 0.6-2.8] for social relationship domains). The association between sport and QoL was greater for low or high PA levels rather than moderate PA for men (physical and psychological health) and women (physical health only). For women, there was a dose-response association with psychological health and social relationships (contribution of sport to QoL increased with PA level).


CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that sport was nearly always associated with better QoL, even more so for people who had low or high PA levels (physical and psychological health for men and physical health for women). Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
EA 4360 APEMAC, Université Paris Descartes, Université de Lorraine, 54500, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Yacoubou Abdou
YA
Omorou
Marie-Line
ML
Erpelding
Hélène
H
Escalon
Anne
A
Vuillemin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult