Perceived Benefits of Exercise in Masters Track and Field Athletes

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