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Does sport-participation improve health? A panel analysis on the role of educational attainment, economic deprivation and work–family load

Abstract In this study, we analyze the connection between a person’s sport-participation and reported subjective health. We hypothesize that this relationship may be affected by educational attainment, economic deprivation and work–family load in two manners. First, these resources may function as common determinants of health and sports participation causing a spurious effect. Moreover, they may moderate this relationship as physical activity might be more beneficial for groups that experience a lack of resources. Our second goal is to study differences between people, and also to investigate developments within individuals’ life courses. In doing so, a stronger claim on causation is feasible. The NEtherlands Longitudinal Lifecourse Study (NELLS) 2009/2013 on the Dutch population of 15–45 years is used to test our hypotheses with cross-sectional and fixed effects models. Our results show that men and women who have a higher sports frequency report better subjective health, but for women differences in subjective health are partially explained by education, economic deprivation and work–family load. We hardly find moderating effects of these particular resources. This underscores that sport participation is beneficial among members of all educational groups, with various work–family loads and for both people in wealth and poverty.