BEM-ESTAR SUBJETIVO E EXERCÍCIO FÍSICO: Um estudo realizado com praticantes e ex-praticantes de uma academia brasileira

Abstract

The study of Subjective Well-Being (SWB) has received frequent attention from researchers because the understanding of its components is relevant to the understanding of what makes a person and a society happy. In this context, we seek to understand if the practice of different physical exercise (PE) in an Academy is a factor to achieve better levels of BES - Life Satisfaction (LS), Positive Affects (PA) and Negative Affects (NA) - for individuals who no longer exercise and are sedentary and if variables such as gender, age, weekly frequency, type of PE, practice time and minutes spent in the gym can change this dynamic. The study had the participation of 400 practitioners and 103 former practitioners (practitioners: 55% female and 45% male / ex-practitioners: 51.5% male and 48.5 female) aged between 18 and 78 years, grouped into four age groups: 1 ° (until 30 years); 2 ° (31 to 45 years); 3 (46 to 60 years) and 4 (over 60 years). Questions were asked about the particularities of PE in the Academy and SWB was evaluated through adapted and translated versions of Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985); and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, (Watson et al., 1988). In general, we found that men practiced more individual activities, while women practiced more group activities, with bodybuilding being the most practiced activity in both sexes; in relation to the age group - the first three echelons had the most recurring practice of bodybuilding, the fourth echelon would primarily adhere to water aerobics. It was evidenced that PE practitioners at the Academy were significantly more satisfied with their lives (LS) and had higher levels of Positive Affects (PA) and lower levels of Negative Affects (NA) than the former sedentary practitioners. We also verified that the weekly frequency and the practice time were not significantly related to the levels of PA and NA, and LS, however, we noticed that those who practiced activities in the gym for more than 30 minutes obtained better results in SWB levels in compared to those practicing activities for only 10 to 30 minutes. Thus, we can conclude that in this sample, PE practitioners in the Academy, regardless of their modality, frequency and time of practice, are more satisfied with their lives and with higher levels of PA and lower NA levels than the former sedentary practitioners.