Abstract

The case for exercise and physical health is now widely established. Medical and health authorities world wide (WHO, 1995) accept that sedentary living doubles the risk of coronary heart disease, carrying a similar risk to hypertension and dislipidemia and not far behind smoking in its impact. Lack of exercise also raises the chance of obesity, diabetes, and some cancers. All of these problems are increasing at a time when affluence and technology in westernised countries are reducing daily physical activity in our lifestyles. It is clear that there is ample evidence to call for increased activity to counteract mortality and morbidity and many countries have responded by launching national physical activity promotion campaigns. However, there is also concern about the growing incidence of mental illness such as cilincal depression and anxiety. Additionally, there has been a recognition of a psychological malaise among the general public, characterised by conditions such as mild depression, low self-esteem, sense of purposelessness and hopelessness, high stress and tension, low sense of personal control and frequent negative affect. This is often put in context of unhealthy behaviours such as alcohol and drug abuse, social isolation and poor life adjustment. It is a scenario particularly observable in countries that have recently experienced strife, economic stress, or political upheaval but also present to some degree in stable societies. The development of problems of psychological well-being has brought further attention to the role of exercise and sport participation in the improvement of life quality in the population. The medical definition of life quality targets maintenance of normal functioning and absence of the debilitations of disease. However, there is greater acceptance of the importance of the subjective base of life quality as characterised in the World Health Authority definition of health as being more than the absence of disease but the experience of social and mental well-being. This brings into play constructs such as life satisfaction, subjective well-being, emotional adjustment, stress and anxiety levels, life coping, social functioning as well es absence of mental illness and disorders. Aus der Einfuehrung