Sport for Pleasure, Fitness, Medals or Slenderness? Differential Effects of Sports Activities on Well-Being

Leisure Time Sports Activities and Life Satisfaction: Deeper Insights Based on a Representative Survey from Germany

“…Previous studies have consistently shown that physical activity is, amongst others, positively associated with happiness, health-related quality of life and satisfaction with life (e.g., Brown et al 2015;Dolan et al 2014;Höner and Demetriou 2012;Huang and Humphreys 2012;Richards et al 2015;Sigvartsen et al 2016). Positive links between physical activity and well-being were found in all age groups, including youths (McMahon et al 2017), students (Jetzke and Mutz 2019), adults (Downward and Dawson 2016;Marques et al 2016) and the elderly (Lera-López et al 2017). Recent reviews based on observational and intervention studies (Wiese et al 2018;White et al 2017;Zhang and Chen 2019) conclude that even small amounts of additional physical activity lead to significant increases in wellbeing.…”

“…Downward and Dawson (2016) found that sporting activities with a lower intensity (likely to be of a casual recreational nature) are associated with higher overall levels of well-being compared to high-intensity exercise. Jetzke and Mutz (2019) demonstrate that intrinsically motivated sporting activities have a greater effect on well-being. Hence, doing sports for "enjoyment" or "to feel fit" add more to a person's well-being than doing sports for "losing or controlling weight".…”

The Impact of Physical Activity and Sport on Mental Health

“…Some people may develop complications when given medications that are not suitable for their age and health (Harris, 2018). Studies have shown that participation in physical exercise can potentially impact a person's mental health (Jetzke & Mutz, 2019). Physical activities and sports can, thus, be integrated into the treatment plan for persons at risk of developing mental health disorders.…”

“…People usually engage in physical activities to achieve specific goals, such as reduce weight, compete, or spend social time. Sporting activities, thus, generate a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction of an individual (Jetzke & Mutz, 2019). Jetzke and Mutz (2019) found out that individuals, who engaged in physical activities had a higher level of satisfaction with life than those who spent a sedentary lifestyle.…”

“…Sporting activities, thus, generate a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction of an individual (Jetzke & Mutz, 2019). Jetzke and Mutz (2019) found out that individuals, who engaged in physical activities had a higher level of satisfaction with life than those who spent a sedentary lifestyle. The other psychological aspects that are enhanced by physical activity, as highlighted by Lubans et al (2016), include resilience, cognitive function, quality of life, self-connectedness, and improved sleep, as highlighted in the chart below.…”