Objectives We aimed to compare the mental health and its subscales between elderly male athletes, active and passive groups. 
Methods & Materials In this correlation study, we studied 150 elderly men in three groups of athletes, active and passive who completed the GHQ-28 questionnaire. Also to assign aging people in two groups of active and passive, we used the Yale physical activity questionnaire and Beacke questionnaire. Moreover, the athletes aged group has been separately selected from the veteran's soccer teams above 60 years. For comparing the group's mean, ANOVA was used. 
Results We found a significant difference between the three groups with respect to physical activity levels, mental health and it's two subscales of depression symptoms and social function (P<0.01). Also, there was a significant difference between active and passive groups and between athletes and passive groups in physical symptoms, as well as anxiety and sleep disorder subscales (P<0.01), but the difference was not significant between the athletes and active groups.
Conclusion Physical activity programs that comply with structural and psychological characteristics of elderly men can improve their mental health and lifestyle as much as their physical health.