Research Papers

Green S, Campbell E, Barnett L, Mitchell R, Radvan D, Van Beurden. Promoting a team ball game (Lifeball) to older people: Who does the game attract, and who continues? Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2009; 20(2): 120-126.

This paper describes the demographic and health-related characteristics (physical activity, self-reported health status, quality of life and falls history) of participants who enrol in Lifeball, a team-based game, and examined associations between these characteristics and continuation. Participants’ reasons for stopping, perceptions of Lifeball and changes in health-related characteristics were explored. A cohort of Lifeball players completed telephone surveys at 2 points in time: baseline, soon after enrolling and 12 months later. Respondents were aged 40 to 96 years (mean 67) at baseline. Most were female (84%), self-rated their health as good or excellent (86%) and reported being sufficiently (>150 minutes per week) physically active (69%). Nearly half (43%) were still playing 12 months later (continuers). An illness/injury not related to Lifeball was the main reason for not continuing. Continuers were more likely to report Lifeball had helped them to: be more active (53%): improve their social life (73%); and feel fitter and healthier (91%). Continuers reported no significant changes in health-related characteristics over 12 months.