Are Total, Intensity- and Domain-Specific Physical Activity Levels Associated with Life Satisfaction among University Students?

Abstract

BackgroundThorough information about the relationship between physical activity (PA) and life satisfaction is still lacking. Therefore, this study examined the cross-sectional relationships between life satisfaction and meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) moderate to vigorous-intensity PA recommendations, total volume and duration of PA, intensity-specific PA (walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity), domain-specific PA (work, transport-related, domestic, and leisure-time), and 11 domain and intensity-specific PA types among university students. Additionally, we examined the associations between life satisfaction and gender, age, disposable income, community size, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index (BMI), and self-rated health.MethodsThe study included a random sample of 1750 university students in Zagreb, Croatia (response rate = 71.7%; 62.4% females; mean age 21.5 ± 1.8 years), using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire — long form and the Satisfaction with Life Scale.ResultsHigher life satisfaction was associated with female gender (β = 0.13; p = <0.001), younger age (β = -0.07; p = 0.024), higher disposable income (β = 0.10; p = 0.001), and better self-rated health (β = 0.30; p = <0.001). No significant association was found between life satisfaction and size of community (p = 0.567), smoking status (p = 0.056), alcohol consumption (p = 0.058), or BMI (p = 0.508). Among all PA variables, only leisure-time vigorous-intensity PA was significantly associated with life satisfaction after adjustments for socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and self-rated general health (β = 0.06; p = 0.045).ConclusionsThis study indicated a weak positive relationship between leisure-time vigorous-intensity PA and life satisfaction, whilst no such association was found for other PA variables. These findings underscore the importance of analyzing domain and intensity-specific PA levels in future studies among university students, as drawing conclusions about the relationship between PA and life satisfaction based on total PA levels only may be misleading.

Determining the Relationship Between Physical Fitness, Gender, and Life Satisfaction

“…This is in contrast with previous authors who have demonstrated that boys have higher general and health-related life satisfaction than girls (Goldbeck, Schmitz, Besier, Herschbach, & Henrich, 2007;Moksnes & Espnes, 2013). In contrast, other studies have demonstrated higher life satisfaction measures among females when compared with males (Pedišić et al, 2015).The current study is one of the first to examine the relationship between measures of physical fitness and life satisfaction. Physical fitness is influenced most by exercise intensity (Williams, 2001), and the results of this study add to the equivocal nature of the existing literature examining the effect of PA intensity on measures of life satisfaction.…”

“…Of further interest to the current authors is the issue of the interaction between gender, and physical fitness. Some studies have demonstrated that women report higher life satisfaction than men (Pedišić, Greblo, Phongsavan, Milton, & Bauman, 2015), while others have shown that men report a higher association between life satisfaction and mortality (Koivumaa-Honkanen et al, 2000). The specific guidelines to improve life satisfaction through changes to fitness levels are still unknown.…”

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and psychological wellbeing among young adults in Bangladesh: A one-year prospective study

“…As shown in Figure 2.3, PA can reduce the risk of multiple chronic health conditions ranging from 20% relative risk reduction for breast cancer to 40% for T2DM (Rhodes et al 2017;Warburton et al 2010 Created from (Rhodes et al 2017) In addition to physical health, PA is also beneficial for psychosocial health (Rhodes et al 2017). PA is related to reduced risk of depression, improved cognitive function and higher life satisfaction Pedisic et al 2015;Rebar et al 2015;Schuch et al 2018). A meta-meta-analysis of 92 intervention studies found that PA reduced anxiety by a small effect [standardised mean difference (SMD): -0.38 (95% CI: -0.66, -0.11)] and depression by a medium effect [-0.50 (-0.93, -0.06)] in non-clinical populations (Rebar et al 2015).…”

“…Perceived social support has consistently been reported as a correlate of PA among university-based young adults(Mirzaei-Alavijeh et al 2018;Rovniak et al 2002;Yasunaga et al 2014). Being satisfied with life(Pedisic et al 2015;Rangul et al 2012), and having good psychosocial health and optimal sleep(Feng et al 2014;Towne et al 2017) have also been positively associated with young adults' PA.…”

“…Strategies to promote PA should target factors identified as significantly associated with PA in that age group and culture. Research in developed and developing countries suggest specific sociodemographic, psychological, social, and health and lifestyle correlates of young adults' PA(Kilpatrick et al 2005;Mirzaei-Alavijeh et al 2018;Pedisic et al 2015;Rangul et al 2012;Romaguera et al 2011;Rovniak et al 2002;Seo et al 2009;Shuval et al 2009;Towne et al 2017;Yasunaga et al 2014). University-based young adults' PA is positively associated with socio-demographic correlates such as male gender(Seo et al 2009;Shuval et al 2009), increased age(Romaguera et al 2011), and high maternal education level(Romaguera et al 2011).…”