This study investigates the relationship between sport participation and the life satisfaction
scores reported by people without and with disabilities, wherein overall life
satisfaction is seen as an aggregate of satisfaction levels regarding various domains of
life (and consistent with the bottom-up spillover theory). Using longitudinal data taken
from the German Socio-Economic Panel for the period 1984–2013, this study presents
estimates from a two-layer model that allows life satisfaction to be explained by the
satisfaction scores reported by individuals with respect to six different domains of life
satisfaction (i.e. job, health, housework, household income, dwelling, and leisure). We
found that sport participation has a positive and significant correlation with the levels of
satisfaction with health, housework, and leisure reported by people with disabilities.
Furthermore, the domains of satisfaction with health, housework and household income
are the main contributors to the enhancement of their levels of overall life satisfaction.
However, the interrelations of these domains of life satisfaction with overall life
satisfaction are mainly transitory. From a public policy perspective, it is necessary to
undertake the design and implementation of inclusive public and private sport programs
for people with disabilities that contribute to increasing not only their levels of overall
life satisfaction but also other facets of life satisfaction.
