The relationship between physical activity intensity and subjective well-being in college students

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the associations between physical activity (PA) and subjective well-being (SWB) by focusing on the intensity of PA and different components of SWB.Participants:The sample included 723 undergraduate students (mean age = 19.3 years).Methods:Participants responded to questionnaires measuring life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, negative affect, vigorous-intensity PA, moderate-intensity PA, and walking. Multiple regression models were performed with the SWB variables as the outcomes and PA variables as the predictors while controlling for age and sex.Results:While vigorous-intensity PA was the only significant predictor for life satisfaction, both moderate-intensity PA and vigorous-intensity PA were positively associated with happiness and positive affect and negatively associated with negative affect. Walking was not associated with any component of SWB.Conclusion: PA has a positive relationship with SWB in college students and this relationship differs by the intensity of PA and the component of SWB.

Automated summary

This study examined the associations between physical activity and subjective well-being in college students, and found that physical activity was positively related to happiness and positive affect, and negatively related to negative affect. The findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between well-being and physical activity among college students.