Comparison of the perception of quality of life among adolescents who do and do not participate in sports in school counterpart

Abstract Background Sports can enhance adolescents’ quality of life perception in their important development phase. Objective compare the domains of quality of life perception of adolescents, male and female, who participate in sports (SP), or another type of physical exercise (PTPE) and non-physical exercise practitioners (NPEP) in the school counterpart. Method The study is cross-sectional with ex post facto design, and its population is composed of adolescents, with a total sample of 374 subjects, divided into three groups (SP, PTPE, NPEP). To evaluate the perception of quality of life of the adolescents, the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire was used, and for the comparative analysis of the data, the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test of a factor with post hoc of Schefe. Results The comparison of quality of life (QoL) dimensions showed that sports practice is an important factor for better perceptions of QoL, consequently a better perception of well-being, especially for males (F = 5.38, 3.86, 4.79, 6.22, 7.93, for feelings, emotional state, self perception, friends, social support respectively and with p <0.05). Conclusion The sport practice, especially in adolescence, deserves to be highlighted, since those who participate in sports in the counterpart presented significant and better perceptions of QoL in the different dimensions analyzed.