An investigation into the relationship between physical activity and happiness in adults

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to investigate if there was a relationship between daily physical activity levels and self reported happiness. The design of the study was cross-sectional. Fifty-one university employees, comprising of twenty-eight males and twenty three females (mean age = 47 years) each completed a three-day physical activity diary and a self administered happiness questionnaire. 67% of the employees were academic and the remainder were administration or technical staff. Correlation analyses were used to assess the relationship between happiness and activity levels in total, occupational and leisure-time activity. The results of the study show the null hypotheses to be correct, as there was no significant relationship between total activity levels and happiness. (p > 0.05). Results also identified that there was no significant relationship between happiness and occupational or leisure-time activity. Happiness scores were associated with gender, and females were found to have a significantly happier than males (p=0.001), although the reason for this was not identified in this study. Participants with low activity levels were found to have a lower mean happiness score than more active participants but his was not statistically significant. Forty-four participants (86%) were found to meet current government guidelines for recommended levels of daily activity. The study concluded that higher levels of activity were not directly associated with increase happiness. It also supports previous research identifying happiness as a multidimensional concept dependant on many social and environmental factors.