High self-reported physical activity is a strong indicator for high health-related quality of life among schoolchildren in poor neighbourhoods of Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Purpose: Little research is available on the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness from disadvantaged communities in middle- and low-income countries. In South Africa, children living in socioeconomically deprived environments are at an increased of sedentary lifestyles and poor HRQoL. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine whether higher self-reported PA and higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels are associated with better HRQoL in South African schoolchildren from
disadvantaged neighbourhoods.Methods: Overall 832 children and adolescents aged 8 to 12 years (415 girls, 417 boys, Mage= 9.5 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. HRQoL was assessed through five dimensions of the KIDSCREEN-27. Self-reported PA was measured using a single item and cardiorespiratory fitness with the 20-meter shuttle run test. Data analysis was based on analyses of (co)variance using age, gender, socioeconomic status, and school class as covariates.Results: Self-reported PA was significantly related to HRQoL. Significant group differences existed across all dimensions of HRQoL between low and high selfreported PA. However, no associations with HRQoL were observed for cardiorespiratory fitness.Conclusions: Schoolchildren meeting recommended levels of PA (60 minutes on at least six days a week) show higher HRQoL than their peers with lower PA levels. There are still open questions on the different associations of physical activity and fitness with HRQoL. Further research is needed to determine how the PA levels of South African children can be improved for example, through school-based PA interventions.