Sport participation and perceived health status: a study of adolescents.

Although it is a well-accepted notion that sport participation enhances health, the precise nature of the relationship has been unclear. Based on a national survey of Icelandic adolescents, this study evaluates the direct and indirect effects of sport participation on perceived health status. It is shown that sport participation has a substantial direct effect on perceived health, controlling for other health related behaviours, psychological distress and disease status. Sport participation also affects perceived health indirectly through distress and smoking, but does not seem to operate through alcohol consumption. The meaning of these results and their implications for future research are discussed.