title: Physical activity and quality of life.
abstract: Physical activity (PA) professionals and participants recognize enhanced quality of life (QoL) as a benefit of and motivator for PA. However, QoL measures are often problematic and rarely consider the participants'perspective. This paper focuses on recent findings from a larger project on the role of QoL in PA and health promotion. More specifically, we focus on the views of participants and potential participants to better understand the relationship of PA and QoL. In earlier stages of the project we began with a conceptual model of QoL and developed a survey. We now focus on participants' views and ask two questions: 1) what is QoL? and 2) how does PA relate to QoL? We first asked those questions of a large sample of university students and community participants as open-ended survey items, and then asked focus groups of community participants. Overall, participants' responses reflected the multidimensional, integrative QoL model, but the responses and patterns provided information that may not be picked up with typical survey measures. Findings suggest that PA contributes to multiple aspects of QoL, that social and emotional benefits are primary motivators and outcomes for participants, and that the meaning of QoL and PA benefits is subjective and contextualized, varying across individuals and settings. Programs that directly target and highlight the multiple dimensions and integrative QoL, while considering the individual participants and contexts, may enhance both PA motivation and participants' health and QoL.
authors: Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA. dlgill@uncg.edu
authors: Diane L
authors: DL
authors: Gill
authors: Cara C
authors: CC
authors: Hammond
authors: Erin J
authors: EJ
authors: Reifsteck
authors: Christine M
authors: CM
authors: Jehu
authors: Rennae A
authors: RA
authors: Williams
authors: Melanie M
authors: MM
authors: Adams
authors: Elizabeth H
authors: EH
authors: Lange
authors: Katie
authors: K
authors: Becofsky
authors: Enid
authors: E
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Ya-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Shang
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy
keywords: Motor activity; Participant views; Quality of life