Comparison of the quality of life among athletes, street and mountain runners.

Abstract

Abstract 

Introduction: This study deals with a subject commonly addressed in the sports field and with rapid growth in the present day, the race, in which two modalities were used for research, the street race and the mountain race. Objectives: to compare and analyze the quality of life among amateur street and mountain runners; to verify the age group and the race modality that provides a better quality of life among the volunteers of the research. Methodology: The sample consisted of 26 individuals living in the South of Minas Gerais, of both sexes, aged between 20 and 75 years. The amateur athletes were divided in two groups of 13 people, according to the race modality practiced. The instrument chosen for data collection was the WHOQOL-bref Questionnaire, an abbreviated version of the WHOQOL-100. For statistical analysis, the following programs and tests were used: Microsoft Excel Software, Normality Test, F-Test, Student's t-Test and Curve Adjustment Test, along with the WHOQOL-bref Syntax. Results: There was a significant difference in aspects: 'psychological' and 'social relation' in the mountain corridor on the street corridor; and no significant difference in the 'physical' and 'environment' aspects. Regarding the age group of the participants, it was verified that there is no relation between age and the quality of life of the runners. Conclusion: the mountain race provides a better quality of life than the street race, especially in the aspects mentioned above, and the age does not influence the quality of life of the runner.  

Keywords: Running; Quality of life; Physical activity.