Quality of Life of Children Engaged in Regular Physical  Activities

Djordje  Arsenovic; Bojan  Djokic; Zoran  Kovacevic; Dejan  Stevanovic; Katarina  Janicijevic; Mirjana A.  Janicijevic Petrovic; Svetlana  Radevic; Snezana  Radovanovic

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i7.10097

Djordje Arsenovic Student Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Bojan Djokic Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Center of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Zoran Kovacevic Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Center of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Dejan Stevanovic Department of Psychiatry, Clinic of Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth, Belgrade, Serbia
Katarina Janicijevic Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Mirjana A. Janicijevic Petrovic Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Svetlana Radevic Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Snezana Radovanovic Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i7.10097

Keywords: Quality of life; Children; Extracurricular physical activity; Questionnaire

Abstract

Background: We aimed to examine the quality of life of children who engage in regular physical activities.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with intersectional 301 children (182 boys and 119 girls) involved in regular sporting activities and the control group of 100 children (67 boys and 33 girls), not involved in extracurricular sports. Children in both groups were from 8 to 13 years, attending elementary school, and without any associated illnesses. The quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the Quality of Life questionnaire Kidscreen-27 version for parents. For comparison of groups, we used χ2 test, and for comparison of mean values among groups we used ANOVA test.

Results: More boys were engaged in sport than girls and the choice of sport is gender-dependent (P<0.01). Boys preferred collective sports, while girls were more oriented towards individual sports (P<0.01). A significant statistical difference in the mean values of the socializing dimension was given to children who trained football (P=0.04) and basketball (P=0.02). In children engaged in volleyball, a statistical difference in the mean values was observed in all dimensions of the questionnaire. In children who trained water polo, a statistically significant difference in the mean values for dimensions of health (P<0.01), mood (P<0.01) and friendship (P=0.01) was seen.

Conclusion: KIDSCREEN scores were significantly higher in the examined group than in the control group, with a statistically significant difference between scores for different sports. Children involved in regular extra-curricular physical activities had better QOL.