Does regular physical activity in children affect the quality of life?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of regular physical activity on quality of life.Procedure: The participants were 60 children (aged 8-12) composed of girls (n=15 age:10.67 ± 0.89 year;height:145.66 ± 5.40cm; weight:43.6 ± 5.51kg) and boys (n=15 age:10.66 ± 0.81 year; height:142. 2 ± 5.05cm;weight:42.73 ± 6.76kg) who were performing regular physical training, and girls (n=15 age:11 ± 0.81year;height:144.33 ± 3.04cm; weight:47.8 ± 4.47kg) and boys (n=15 age:10.66 ± 0.81year; height:142.2 ± 5.05cm;weight:42.73 ± 6.76kg) who were not performing regular physical training. Height - weight measurements andThe Inventory of Turkish Children’s Quality of Pediatric Life 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) were implemented. All collecteddata’s descriptive analysis and the difference between 2 groups were compared with test of significance ofdifference between two independent groups. Main findings: There was no statistically significant difference inquality of life of between the girls who were performing regular physical training and not (p>0.05). Boys’ whowere performing regular physical training quality of life in terms of physical health and social functions washigher than those who were not performing regular physical training (p<0.05). Girls who were performingregular physical training had lower quality of life with regard to physical status than boys (p<0.05).Conclusions: According to results of this study, it was determined that children especially boys who wereperforming regular physical activity had better quality of life in terms of physical health and social functions