Perceived Benefits of Exercise in Masters Track and Field Athletes

Authors

Natalie N. McLaurin, The University of Texas at AustinFollow
Philippe Brosselin, The University of Texas at AustinFollow
Kazumasa Manabe, The University of Texas at AustinFollow
Boyu Zhang, Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, German Sports University CologneFollow
Jonas Boecker, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace CenterFollow
Phil Chilibeck, University of SaskatchewanFollow
Michael Arz, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace CenterFollow
Daniel Arvidsson, University of GothenburgFollow
Dominik Pesta, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace CenterFollow
Joern Rittweger, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace CenterFollow
Hirofumi Tanaka, University of Texas at AustinFollow

Abstract

One of the most significant challenges of regular exercise is sustaining it over time. Masters athletes have managed to turn exercise into a lifelong habit. Understanding the perceived benefits of exercise in masters athletes may uncover factors that lead to lifelong habits. PURPOSE: To evaluate the perceived benefits of exercise in masters athletes varying widely in age and sporting events. METHODS: A total of 244 masters athletes (mean 58±13, 35-91 years, 47% female) were surveyed from the 2024 World Masters Track and Field Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Quality and Importance of Recreational Services (QIRS) survey assessed perceived benefits of sports participation. RESULTS: QIRS factor analysis resulted in 3 subscales of perceived benefits: Cognitive (Cronbach α=0.91), Fitness (α=0.87), and Social (α=0.82). Across subscales, higher mean scores were reported for the Fitness and Social subscales compared with Cognitive when analyzed by age, sex, and sporting event (all P<0.05). Women reported higher mean scores for the Cognitive (P=0.047) and Social (P=0.004) subscales than men. Within the Cognitive, Fitness, and Social subscales, no differences were found by age or sporting event. The Cognitive subscale was positively associated with body fat percentage, total training years, weekly training volume, and education level (r= 0.15-0.27, all P<0.05), and negatively associated with sleep duration (r= -0.17, P=0.011). The Fitness subscale was positively associated with weekly training volume and training intensity (r= 0.13-0.20, all P<0.05) and negatively associated with age (r= -0.15, P=0.022). The Social subscale was positively associated with body fat percentage, weekly training hours, and training intensity (r= 0.16-0.19, all P<0.05) and negatively associated with sleep duration (r= -0.17, P=0.010). No association was found between age-graded performance and any QIRS subscale. CONCLUSIONS: Masters athletes perceive Fitness and Social benefits more highly than Cognitive benefits. Perceived exercise benefits were not associated with age-graded sports performance. These results suggest that fitness and social influences, rather than competitive success, may drive lifelong exercise habits in older adults.

Recommended Citation

McLaurin, Natalie N.; Brosselin, Philippe; Manabe, Kazumasa; Zhang, Boyu; Boecker, Jonas; Chilibeck, Phil; Arz, Michael; Arvidsson, Daniel; Pesta, Dominik; Rittweger, Joern; and Tanaka, Hirofumi (2026) "Perceived Benefits of Exercise in Masters Track and Field Athletes," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 66.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/66