The effectiveness of participation in group sports-recreational activities on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract Background and objective Physical activity is an effective non-pharmacological approach to enhance the well-being of individuals with schizophrenia. This study examined the impact of group sports-recreational activities on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. Methodology The statistical population of this semi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest design included 75 men with schizophrenia (mean age = 53.77 ± 4.74 years) residing in the neuropsychological rehabilitation center of Susa city in southern Iran in 2024. Sixty participants were randomly selected and assigned to either an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). The experimental group engaged in group sports-recreational activities for 12 weeks (three sessions per week, 20 min per session). Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life questionnaire, covering four subscales: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health. Findings ANCOVA results, controlling for pretest scores, revealed significant differences between the groups in overall quality of life (F = 45.42, P = 0.001, η 2 = 0.61). Significant improvements were also observed in physical health (F = 12.26, P = 0.002, η 2 = 0.30), psychological health (F = 31.22, P = 0.001, η 2 = 0.52), social relationships (F = 12.20, P = 0.002, η 2 = 0.37), and environmental health (F = 10.80, P = 0.003, η 2 = 0.30) for the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion Group sports-recreational activities significantly improve the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia and should be included in rehabilitation programs.