Participation in football and health-related quality of life among middle-aged and older men.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between participation in football and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in middle-aged and older men in Japan.

Methods: This was a survey with cross-sectional design. Middle-aged and older men who were registered members of the Japan Football Association as players were recruited (Football group). We also performed an online survey of middle-aged and older men and categorised them into two groups based on questions for this survey about their current engagement in sports/exercise activities (none group and individual sports group). HRQOL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The physical component summary (PCS) score and mental component summary (MCS) score were calculated based on eight SF-36 subscales.

Results: The total number of participants in this survey was 5761 (none: 1988; individual sports: 1,776; football: 1997). After adjustment for covariates, PCS scores revealed no differences among groups (none: 51.2±11.1; individual sports: 51.9±8.9; football: 52.1±5.6), although the corresponding subscale scores differed significantly among groups. The football group exhibited significantly higher MCS scores compared with the other groups (none: 48.9±10.1; individual sports: 52.2±9.5; football: 56.2±7.2). The corresponding subscale scores of the MCS were significantly higher in the Football group compared with the other groups.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that middle-aged and older men who are registered football players had better HRQOL in the mental aspect compared with those without any exercise habits and to those who engage in individual sports, although the cross-sectional design could not establish causality.