Systematic Review: Current Findings and Trends in the Study of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction
Vol.20,No.1(2026)
The article deals with current trends in the academic environment in the measurement of physical activity and lifestyle and the relationship between these two phenomena. The authors focused on evaluating the measurement of physical activity in academic research and comparing subjective and objective methods. The article also describes the concept of life satisfaction and its measurement methods in articles. At the end, the authors described the relationship between the two observed phenomena based on the literature search. The findings suggest that while physical activity is generally associated with higher life satisfaction, the strength and nature of this relationship vary depending on measurement methods, age groups, and cultural contexts, emphasising the need for careful interpretation and further research.
Physical activity measuring; Subjective methods; Objective methods; Life satisfaction; Quality of life; Wellbeing; Mental health
Ács, P., Betlehem, J., Oláh, A., Bergier, J., Melczer, C., Prémusz, V., & Makai, A. (2020). Measurement of public health benefits of physical activity: Validity and reliability study of the international physical activity questionnaire in Hungary. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1198. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08508-9
Alonzo, R., Lalva, T., Couper, R. G., & Wilk, P. (2022). Association between physical activity and life satisfaction among adults with multimorbidity in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 113(4), 598–606. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-022-00635-7
Alsubaie, A. S. (2021). Associations between self-rated health, life satisfaction and physical activity among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Medicine and Life, 14(5), 651–657. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2021-0046
An, H.-Y., Chen, W., Wang, C.-W., Yang, H.-F., Huang, W.-T., & Fan, S.-Y. (2020). The Relationships between Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction and Happiness among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134817
Anderson, E., & Durstine, J. L. (2019). Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief review. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 1(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smhs.2019.08.006
Armstrong, T., & Bull, F. (2006). Development of the World Health Organization Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Journal of Public Health, 14(2), 66–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-006-0024-x
Arvidsson, D., Fridolfsson, J., & Börjesson, M. (2019). Measurement of physical activity in clinical practice using accelerometers. Journal of Internal Medicine, 286(2), 137–153. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12908
Ayhan, C., Işık, Ö., & Kaçay, Z. (2021). The relationship between physical activity attitude and life satisfaction: A sample of university students in Turkey. Work, 69(3), 807–813. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-213513
Baird, B. M., Lucas, R. E., & Donnellan, M. B. (2010). Life Satisfaction Across the Lifespan: Findings from Two Nationally Representative Panel Studies. Social Indicators Research, 99(2), 183–203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9584-9
Bartels, M. (2015). Genetics of Wellbeing and Its Components Satisfaction with Life, Happiness, and Quality of Life: A Review and Meta-analysis of Heritability Studies. Behavior Genetics, 45(2), 137–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-015-9713-y
Baştuğ, G., & Duman, S. (2010). Examining life satisfaction level depending on physical activity in Turkish and German societies. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 4892–4895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.790
Bayraktar, D., Yuksel Karsli, T., Ozer Kaya, D., Sarac, D. C., Gucenmez, S., Gercik, O., Kabadayi, G., Kurut, I., Solmaz, D., & Akar, S. (2021). Is the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) a valid assessment tool for measuring physical activity of patients with axial spondyloartritis? Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 55, 102418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102418
Beyari, H. (2023). The Relationship between Social Media and the Increase in Mental Health Problems. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2383. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032383
Bradley, K. D., Cunningham, J. D., & Gilman, R. (2014). Measuring Adolescent Life Satisfaction: A Psychometric Investigation of the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS). Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(6), 1333–1345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9478-z
Brodersen, N. H., Steptoe, A., Boniface, D. R., & Wardle, J. (2007). Trends in physical activity and sedentary behaviour in adolescence: Ethnic and socioeconomic differences. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(3), 140–144. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.031138
Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J.-P., Chastin, S., Chou, R., Dempsey, P. C., DiPietro, L., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Friedenreich, C. M., Garcia, L., Gichu, M., Jago, R., Katzmarzyk, P. T., … Willumsen, J. F. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(24), 1451–1462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
Cao, X., Zhang, Q., & Liu, X. (2023). Cross-Lagged Relationship between Physical Activity Time, Openness and Depression Symptoms among Adolescents: Evidence from China. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 25, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2023.029365
Caspersen, C. J., Powell, K. E., & Christenson, G. M. (1985). Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: Definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public Health Reports, 100(2), 126–131.
Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, R., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of personality assessment, 49, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Dillon, K. M., & Tait, J. L. (2000). Spirituality and being in the zone in team sports: A relationship? Journal of Sport Behavior, 23(2), 91–100.
Fagaras, S.-P., Radu, L.-E., & Vanvu, G. (2015). The Level of Physical Activity of University Students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 197, 1454–1457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.094
Fahrenberg, J., Myrtek, M., Schumacher, J., & Brähler, E. (2001). Dotazník životní spokojenosti. Testcentrum.
Gába, A., Rubín, L., Badura, P., Roubalová, E., Sigmund, E., Kudláček, M., Sigmundová, D., Dygrýn, J., & Hamrik, Z. (2018). Results from the Czech Republic’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 15(S2), S338–S340. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2018-0508
Guthold, R., Stevens, G. A., Riley, L. M., & Bull, F. C. (2020). Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents: A pooled analysis of 298 population-based surveys with 1·6 million participants. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(1), 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30323-2
Hamplová, D. (2004). Zivotni spokojenost: Rodine, prace a dalsi faktory (1. vyd). Sociologický ústav Akademie věd České republiky.
Herbert, C. (2022). Enhancing Mental Health, Well-Being and Active Lifestyles of University Students by Means of Physical Activity and Exercise Research Programs. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 849093. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.849093
Hodaň, B. (2006). Sociokulturní kinantropologie I: Úvod do problematiky (1. vyd). Masarykova univerzita.
Hsu, Y.-W., Liu, C.-C., Chang, Y.-J., Tsai, Y.-J., Tsai, W.-C., & Fu, Y. (2021). Comparisons of Subjective and Objective Measures of Free-Living Daily Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in College Students. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, 3(2), 186–194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-019-00047-z
Hurych, E. (2019). Duchovní rozměr pohybu v sekularizující se společnosti: Celkový rámec a vybrané pohledy poutníků a běžců (Vydání první). Masarykova univerzita.
Chaput, J.-P., Willumsen, J., Bull, F., Chou, R., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Jago, R., Ortega, F. B., & Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2020). 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years: Summary of the evidence. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(1), 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-01037-z
Cheung, F., & Lucas, R. E. (2014). Assessing the validity of single-item life satisfaction measures: Results from three large samples. Quality of Life Research, 23(10), 2809–2818. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0726-4
Cholewa, C., Witkowski, M., Wąsik, J., & Góra, T. (2020). Declared and actual students’ physical activity. Physical Education of Students, 24(3), 135–140. https://doi.org/10.15561/20755279.2020.0302
Jirásek, I. (2005). Filosofická kinantropologie: Setkání filosofie, těla a pohybu (1. vyd). Univerzita Palackého.
Jirásek, I., & Hurych, E. (2018). The perception of spiritual health differences between citizens and physicians in the Czech Republic. 33(5). https://www.muni.cz/vyzkum/publikace/1527636
Kauhanen, L., Wan Mohd Yunus, W. M. A., Lempinen, L., Peltonen, K., Gyllenberg, D., Mishina, K., Gilbert, S., Bastola, K., Brown, J. S. L., & Sourander, A. (2023). A systematic review of the mental health changes of children and young people before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32(6), 995–1013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02060-0
Keating, X. D., Zhou, K., Liu, X., Hodges, M., Liu, J., Guan, J., Phelps, A., & Castro-Piñero, J. (2019). Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ): A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(21), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214128
Kirchner, J. (2009). Psychologie prožitku a dobrodružství—Pro pedagogiku a psychoterapii (1. vyd.). CPress. https://www.trhknih.cz/kniha/44ts5wle
Křeménková, L., Kvintová, J., & Pugnerová, M. (2017). Vztah životní spokojenosti a jejích složek s osobnostními charakteristikami u studentů učitelských oborů. e-Pedagogium, 17(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.5507/epd.2017.007
Kvintova, J., Kudlacek, M., & Sigmundova, D. (2016). Active Lifestyle as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction among University Students. The Anthropologist, 24(1), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2016.11892004
Lojdová, M., Kvintová, J., Štěrbová, D., & Krol, P. (2021). Assessment of life satisfaction and its selected components in relation to the level of physical activity. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 21(03).
Lopez-Gomez, I., Chaves, C., & Vazquez, C. (2021). Life satisfaction (s. 275–280).
Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475
Margolis, S., Schwitzgebel, E., Ozer, D. J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). A New Measure of Life Satisfaction: The Riverside Life Satisfaction Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 101(6), 621–630. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2018.1464457
Nelson, M. C., Taylor, K., & Vella, C. A. (2019). Comparison of Self-Reported and Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Undergraduate Students. Measurement in physical education and exercise science, 23(3), 237–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2019.1610765
Pašková, L., Sližik, M., Blahutková, M., Górny, M. P., & Benedik, Ľ. (2019). Sport activity in the context of subjective well-being of university student. TRENDS in Sport Sciences, 26(2), 85–90. https://doi.org/10.23829/TSS.2019.26.2-7
Proctor, C. L., Linley, P. A., & Maltby, J. (2009). Youth Life Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(5), 583–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9110-9
Proctor, C., Linley, P. A., & Maltby, J. (2017). Life Satisfaction. In R. J. R. Levesque (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Adolescence (s. 1–12). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32132-5_125-2
Rocliffe, P., Adamakis, M., O’Keeffe, B. T., Walsh, L., Bannon, A., Garcia-Gonzalez, L., Chambers, F., Stylianou, M., Sherwin, I., Mannix-McNamara, P., & MacDonncha, C. (2024). The Impact of Typical School Provision of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Systematic Literature Review. Adolescent Research Review, 9(2), 339–364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-023-00220-0
Ruggeri, K., Garcia-Garzon, E., Maguire, Á., Matz, S., & Huppert, F. A. (2020). Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: A multidimensional analysis of 21 countries. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 18(1), 192. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01423-y
Rychtecký, A., & Tilinger, P. (2017). Životní styl české mládeže: Pohybová aktivita, standardy a normy motorické výkonosti. https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzE2OTk0OTJfX0FO0?sid=7359c8c6-00cb-4d81-a454-084fe6959006@redis&vid=1&format=EB&rid=2
Safi, A., Cole, M., Kelly, A., Deb, S., & Walker, N. (2022). A Comparison of Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle of University Employees through ActiGraph and IPAQ-LF. Physical Activity and Health, 6(1), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.5334/paah.163
Sekot, A. (2018). Pohybové aktivity pohledem sociologie. Masarykova univerzita. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip&custid=s8431878&profile=eds
Shephard, R. J. (2003). Limits to the measurement of habitual physical activity by questionnaires. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(3), 197–206; discussion 206. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.37.3.197
Sylvia, L. G., Bernstein, E. E., Hubbard, J. L., Keating, L., & Anderson, E. J. (2014). A Practical Guide to Measuring Physical Activity. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114(2), 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2013.09.018
Šipl, M., & Hurych, E. (2023). The Effect of Physical Activities on Somatic Parameters of Masaryk University Students – Some Selected Results. Studia sportiva, 16(2), 283–291. https://doi.org/10.5817/StS2022-2-28
Theofilou, P. (2013). Quality of Life: Definition and Measurement. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 9(1), 150–162. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v9i1.337
Veitch, W. G., Climie, R. E., Gabbe, B. J., Dunstan, D. W., Owen, N., & Ekegren, C. L. (2020). Agreement between the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Accelerometry in Adults with Orthopaedic Injury. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176139
WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour. (2020). World Health Organization. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK566045/

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright © 2026 Jakub Palka, Emanuel Hurych