Physical Fitness and Mental Wellness Optimization in Athlete and Non-Athletes

Abstract

Participation in sports has been shown to influence life satisfaction positively. In this study, perceptions of life optimization and mental wellness were examined between athletes and non-athletes. The sample consisted of 627 college students (222 male and 405 female) from 18 to 44 years of age. Participants included 555 non-athletes and 72 athletes. Participants completed two scales designed to assess how optimal they believed they were performing in physical fitness and mental wellness (0 = non-optimal, 100 = optimal). An analysis of covariance with sport engagement as the independent variable (NCAA, Club, Intramural, non-athletes) demonstrated a significant difference in physical fitness optimization, F (3, 602) = 12.600, p < .001, η2 = .059, when adjusted for age and gender as covariates (Figure 1). Fisher's Least Significant Difference post hoc analyses revealed that NCAA athletes reported higher optimization in physical fitness than non-athletes (p < .001) and club athletes (p < .001), that club athletes reported higher physical fitness optimization than non-athletes (p = .025), and that intramural athletes reported higher physical fitness optimization than non-athletes (p = .005). difference in mental wellness optimization between sport engagement groups F (3,610) = 6.398, p < .001, η2 = .031, when adjusted for age and gender as covariates (Figure 2). Fisher's Least Significant Difference post hoc analyses revealed that NCAA athletes reported higher mental wellness optimization than non-athletes (p < .001) and club athletes (p = .028), and that intramural athletes reported higher mental wellness optimization than non-athletes (p = .017). No other post hoc comparison was significant (p > .05). The results suggest those who participate in sports are generally more satisfied with their physical fitness and mental health than non-athletes.