Get active? A meta-analysis of leisure-time physical activity and subjective well-being

National time use data shows that working adults typically spend their leisure time in passive activities (e.g. watching television), which may detrimentally impact worker well-being. While leisure time physical activity (LTPA) can be strenuous, it likely facilitates detachment from work demands, promotes a wide range of psychological needs, and instigates physiological mechanisms, which in turn can lead to higher worker well-being. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review to quantitatively synthesize the strength of effects between LTPA and subjective well-being (SWB; positive affect, negative affect, life satisfaction). We found that LTPA is associated with both positive affect (k = 7, n = 2,107, r = 0.21) and life satisfaction (k = 7; n = 2544; r = 0.12), but not with negative affect (k = 6; n = 2033; r = -0.05). Our results provide evidence for the importance of engaging in LTPA as a way of promoting SWB.