Abstract
The constituent year effect, a source of relative age disparities, in masters sport has been demonstrated mainly amongst North American samples. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether a participation-related constituent year effect exists among athletes (n = 6492) competing in Australian Masters Athletics competitions between 2000 and 2014. The results indicated that a participation-related constituent year effect was observed as the likelihood of participating was significantly higher for masters athletes in their first and second constituent year of any five-year age category (p < 0.0001) and was lower when they were in the fourth or fifth constituent year. The results also indicated this effect is influenced by gender and age. Specifically, the effect was significant for both male (p < 0.0001) and female (p < 0.001) masters athletes; as well during the third, sixth, seventh, and eighth + decades of life (all ps < 0.001). These data demonstrate that despite masters sport being an avenue for promotion of participation and overall health, there is potential for improving how competitive organizational strategies are implemented given the recurring intermittent patterns of participation associated with five-year age brackets which are likely to compromise benefits.
Highlights
Considerable evidence exists to support the link between regular physical activity, including sport and health promotion in terms of physiological [1] and psychological [2] benefits
It was found that significantly more masters athletes competed in the Australian masters track and field championships if they were in the first or second year of an age category and significantly fewer in the fourth and fifth year of an age category
Consistent with previous findings [9,11,12,13], the results indicated that a participation-related constituent year effect is evident overall; that relatively younger masters athletes participated significantly more often than athletes in their fourth or fifth year of an age category
Summary
Considerable evidence exists to support the link between regular physical activity, including sport and health promotion in terms of physiological [1] and psychological [2] benefits. Participation rates in physical activities, such as sport remain generally poor, and this trend is evident in older adult cohorts where decreasing levels of physical activity participation are typically noted compared to younger age cohorts [3]. Contrary to this trend, is the growing recognition and appeal of participation in Masters-level sport which indicates an increasing number of National- and Internationally-based competitions for masters athletes since the inception of these events in the 1970s [4,5]. The Masters designation begins at 25 years of age for swimming, at 35 years of age for track and field, and at 50 years of age for golf
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