Does sports club participation contribute to health-related quality of life?

Abstract: Given the social nature of participation in sport, we hypothesised that club sports participants would have greater well-being and quality of life than participants in other forms of physical activity (PA).

Purpose: To examine Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) 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 physical activity setting and measures of HRQoL (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.

Conclusion: Although cross-sectional research cannot establish causal links, the results suggest that participation in club sport may enhance the health benefits of PA.