The comparison of general health in athlete and non-athlete women

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the general health in athlete and non-athlete women. The statistical population of the present study included all athlete and non-athlete women in Shiraz, Iran. The sample consisted of 764 subjects (382 athletes, 382 non- athletes) that the athletes sample selected by Gerjesy and Morgan’ sample size table and non-athletes sample selected by purposeful sampling method. The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1978) was used for measuring the general health. Independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests were used for data analysis. The results showed a significant difference between athlete and non-athlete women in the general health and its subscales (p<0.05). According to this finding, general health in athletes is better than non-athlete women. Regarding the findings of this study, it can be argued that sport activities are effective in improving general health of women.