Abstract

Voluntary association membership has been empirically associated with increased levels of expressed life satisfaction. Some sport researchers have concluded that the positive effect on socio-emotional well-being is greater if the voluntary association involves sports. These earlier studies have been constrained by small sample size, narrow age range, or a lack of geographic representativeness. This study uses two cross-secitonal samples of the American adult population to test the relationship of type of voluntary association (sport vs. non-sport) and avowed happiness. The results contradict earlier findings. Membership in a sport (as vs. non-sport) voluntary association does not lead to substantively higher levels of life satisfaction. For women, the relationship between membership in a sport voluntary association and avowed happiness is negative. Verf.-Referat