Quality of Life is Lowest Among Female Athletes at the Community College Compared to University Sport Levels

Abstract

Quality of life (QOL) is essential for sport and academic performance, personal satisfaction, and general health. This study aimed to examine the QOL of female athletes at the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NJCAA Division II, and student club sport levels. This cross-sectional study included N= 159 female athletes to complete a personal demographics and World Health Organization Quality of Life- Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) assessment. The primary QOL, including physical, mental, social relationships, and environmental health domains and total scores, were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests. NCAA DI had a higher total QOL score than NJCAA (p< 0.001) and NCAA DII and NJCAA athletes (p< 0.05). Likewise, NCAA DI had higher physical health scores than NCAA DII and NJCAA DII athletes, and club athletes higher than NCAA DII, p< 0.001. Lower mental health scores were found for NJCAA and club athletes compared to NCAA I, p< 0.01, and NCAA II, p= 0.02, athletes. NJCAA athletes had lower environmental health than NCAA DI and DII sports athletes, p= 0.05. No differences were found for the social relationships domain, p= 0.61. In conclusion, collegiate female athletes’ QOL warrants improved wellness services, especially at the NJCAA level. Keywords: wellness, health, survey, resources, support