Idiosyncratic Social Determinants of Wellbeing for Middle-aged Men Who Play Over-35s Soccer

Sport Participation and Subjective Outcomes of Health in Middle-Aged Men: A Scoping Review

“…Of the 21 studies included, only 2 included both an exclusively middle-aged male cohort and a primary focus on assessing the relationship between sport participation and a subjective health outcome ( Hall & Houlbrook, 2019 ; Kitchen & Chowhan, 2016 ). The remaining 19 studies, whose primary aims were not to specifically assess the relationship between middle-aged male sport participation and subjective health (e.g., investigate and compare the quality of life (QoL) in endurance runners of differing diets ( Boldt et al, 2018 )), provided data on male sport participants’ subjective health.…”

“…The remaining 19 studies, whose primary aims were not to specifically assess the relationship between middle-aged male sport participation and subjective health (e.g., investigate and compare the quality of life (QoL) in endurance runners of differing diets ( Boldt et al, 2018 )), provided data on male sport participants’ subjective health. Six studies compared a sporting sample to a non-sporting/general population sample ( Bullock et al, 2020 ; Grunseit et al, 2017 ; Kitchen & Chowhan, 2016 ; Mayolas-Pi et al, 2017 ; Moreira et al, 2016 ; Munguia-Izquierdo et al, 2017 ; Swain et al, 2016 ), 9 studies compared individuals who reported sport participation versus those that indicated no sport participation via a questionnaire ( Downward et al, 2016 ; Froom et al, 2004 ; Knapik et al, 2009 ; Luschen et al, 1997 ; Marlier et al, 2015 ; Omorou et al, 2013 ; Snyder & Spreitzer, 1974 ; Woitas-Ślubowska & Skarpanska-Stejnborn, 2010 ), while six studies had no non-sporting comparator group ( Abotsie et al, 2020 ; Boldt et al, 2018 ; Croteau et al, 2019 ; Hall & Houlbrook, 2019 ; J. Kim et al, 2014 ; Pori et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Three studies employed a qualitative approach and assessed sports participation on subjective health. Two of these studies used mixed methods ( Abotsie et al, 2020 ; Hall & Houlbrook, 2019 ); however, only the qualitative outcomes were applicable for this review. In general, participation in sport was identified to positively influence the well-being of middle-aged men through enjoyment and social connections ( Abotsie et al, 2020 ; Hall & Houlbrook, 2019 ; J. Kim et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Research has reported that social variables, which encompassed factors such as positive social norms, peers participating in PA, and social support to perform PA, are significant in explaining PA variance in men aged 35 to 65 years ( De Bourdeaudhuij & Sallis, 2002 ), while the social aspect of sport has been identified to be a major attractor among men ( Robertson, 2003 ). Across the identified literature, six of eight studies of team-sport participants reported positive effects on physical HRQoL ( Bullock et al, 2020 ; Moreira et al, 2016 ), mental HRQoL ( Moreira et al, 2016 ), self-rated health ( Kitchen & Chowhan, 2016 ), or outlined themes of improved well-being, in part through developing social connections ( Abotsie et al, 2020 ; Hall & Houlbrook, 2019 ; J. Kim et al, 2014 ). Of the two that did not follow this pattern, one only provided data to compare males and females and did not identify a difference in self-rated health or flourishing ( Croteau et al, 2019 ), while the other identified no difference in HRQoL between amateur rugby players and age-matched males ( Swain et al, 2016 ).…”

“…A primary finding of this review was that there was a lack of peer-reviewed literature that had directly investigated how sport influenced the subjective health of men in their middle years. Of the 21 included studies, only two studies included a male only sample that was 35 years or older and provided a clear indication of the sport assessed ( Hall & Houlbrook, 2019 ; Kitchen & Chowhan, 2016 ). It was more common for the inclusion of a wider age range (e.g., 15–69 years ( Omorou et al, 2013 )) or both males and females to be included with only select data available for males.…”