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. 2025 May;17(2):e70027.
doi: 10.1111/aphw.70027.

Physical activity, health, and life satisfaction: Four panel studies demonstrate reciprocal effects

Daniel Groß  1   2 , Carl-Walter Kohlmann  1
Affiliations

Physical activity, health, and life satisfaction: Four panel studies demonstrate reciprocal effects

Daniel Groß et al. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2025 May.

Abstract

We examined the between-person correlations and within-person reciprocal effects of physical activity, long-standing health issues, self-rated health, and life satisfaction across four panels using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Data were analyzed from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA, N = 32,913, 21 waves, 1-year intervals), the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP, N = 83,844, 14 waves, 2-year intervals), the Dutch Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences Panel (LISS, N = 14,778, 11 waves, 1-year intervals), and the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS, N = 50,032, 4 waves, 2-year intervals). The analysis of the first two panels focused on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sports participation in leisure time, whereas the latter two examined physical activity intensities (light, moderate, and vigorous). Across all panels, physical activity and its intensities were positively correlated with long-standing health issues, self-rated health, and life satisfaction. Within-person analyses revealed primarily positive bidirectional effects between physical activity and self-rated health and between physical activity and life satisfaction, with self-rated health effects more pronounced at higher physical activity intensities and life satisfaction at lower intensities. Effects between physical activity and long-standing health issues were less consistent, appearing mainly for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity intensities in 1-year intervals. Physical activity intensities had different effects on self-rated health and life satisfaction, and the effects were bidirectional in nature. These results suggest that physical activity interventions should be tailored to intensity: Light activity may enhance more effective life satisfaction, while higher intensities better support health. The existing bidirectional effects may further trigger an upward spiral, reinforcing improvements in both health and well-being.

Keywords: exercise; health; life satisfaction; long‐standing health issues; physical activity; well‐being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Both authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Results for the random intercept cross‐lagged panel model in Study 1 (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia [HILDA]). Only significant between‐person and cross‐lagged effects are shown for simplicity. The prefix b denotes between‐person effects. The prefix w denotes within‐person effects. [], describes the values between which the standardized effects vary; LH, long‐standing health condition; LS, life satisfaction. Standardized estimates are reported; PA, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity; SH, self‐rated health.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Results for the random intercept cross‐lagged panel model in Study 2 (Socio‐Economic Panel [SOEP]). Only significant between‐person and cross‐lagged effects are shown for simplicity. The prefix b denotes between‐person effects. The prefix w denotes within‐person effects. [], describes the values between which the standardized effects vary; LH, long‐standing health condition; LS, life satisfaction. Standardized estimates are reported; PA, sports participation in leisure time; SH, self‐rated health.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Results for the random intercept cross‐lagged panel model in Study 3 (Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences [LISS]). Only significant between‐person and cross‐lagged effects are shown for simplicity. The prefix b denotes between‐person effects. The prefix w denotes within‐person effects. [], describes the values between which the standardized effects vary; LH, long‐standing health condition; LPA, light physical activity; LS, life satisfaction. Standardized estimates are reported; MPA, moderate physical activity; SH, self‐rated health; VPA, vigorous physical activity.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Results for the random intercept cross‐lagged panel model in Study 4 (UK (Understanding Society) Household Longitudinal Study [UKHLS]). Only significant between‐person and cross‐lagged effects are shown for simplicity. The prefix b denotes between‐person effects. The prefix w denotes within‐person effects. [], describes the values between which the standardized effects vary; LH, long‐standing health condition; LPA, light physical activity; LS, life satisfaction. Standardized estimates are reported; MPA, moderate physical activity; SH, self‐rated health; VPA, vigorous physical activity.
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