Abstract: Objective: To observe the influence of the internal factors of exercise and fitness behavior on the quality of life of empty nesters. Methods: Questionnaire of Sports and Fitness Behavior and Quality of Life were distributed to 368 subjects to investigate their health-related quality of life and sports and fitness behaiors. Results: (1) compared with non-empty nesters, the health status of empty nesters is characteriazed by high proportion of chronic disease patients and poor quality of life, which needs more attention; (2) the proportion of non-empty nesters who spend more than 2 hours on daily exercise and fitness is significantly higher than that of empty nesters (P<0.05); (3) the sports population among empty nesters develop more serious chronic disease than that of non-sports population; (4) the various dimensons of quality of life are in a close relationship with sports and leisure style, sports and exercise organization form, sports venue selection, total time of daily exercise and fitness, among which sports and leisure style (dynamic or static) and the total time of daily exercise and fitness play an dramatic role, and they have a closer relationship with mental health. Conclusion: the health-related quality of life, especially the mental health-related quality of life of empty nesters is lower than that of non-empty nesters. The proportion of sports population among empty nesters is lower than that among non-empty nesters. There is a close relationship between the internal factors of exercise and fitness behavior and the health-related quality of life of empty nesters.

Key words: empty nesters, quality of life, exercise, SF-36 Scale