Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation
Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and physical activity have many benefits for both the body and mind. This study examined the possible mediating effects of self-control and forms of emotion regulation on life satisfaction. A total of 186 adults par...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Wiktor Potoczny Radosława Herzog-Krzywoszańska Łukasz Krzywoszański |
| author_facet | Wiktor Potoczny Radosława Herzog-Krzywoszańska Łukasz Krzywoszański |
| author_sort | Wiktor Potoczny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and physical activity have many benefits for both the body and mind. This study examined the possible mediating effects of self-control and forms of emotion regulation on life satisfaction. A total of 186 adults participated in an online survey. Subjects answered questions regarding the regularity of participation in various forms of physical activity and completed questionnaires assessing self-control, emotional regulation, and life satisfaction. The Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Brief Self-Control Scale were used to assess life satisfaction and dispositional self-control. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was used to measure two different forms of emotion regulation: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Based on self-reported average minutes spent exercising per week, participants were classified into four levels of physical activity according to World Health Organization guidelines. The mediation analysis results showed that dispositional self-control and cognitive reappraisal fully mediated the relationship between physical activity level and life satisfaction. This suggests that regular physical activity may increase levels of self-control and cognitive reappraisal, which in turn leads to greater life satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of regular exercise in promoting well-being and increasing life satisfaction through its beneficial effects on self-control and emotion regulation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd3569f879b84114924983957dd4eae0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd3569f879b84114924983957dd4eae02025-08-20T03:12:20ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01154187810.3390/app15041878Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion RegulationWiktor Potoczny0Radosława Herzog-Krzywoszańska1Łukasz Krzywoszański2Institute of Psychology, University of The National Education Commission, 30-084 Krakow, PolandInstitute of Psychology, University of The National Education Commission, 30-084 Krakow, PolandInstitute of Psychology, University of The National Education Commission, 30-084 Krakow, PolandPhysical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and physical activity have many benefits for both the body and mind. This study examined the possible mediating effects of self-control and forms of emotion regulation on life satisfaction. A total of 186 adults participated in an online survey. Subjects answered questions regarding the regularity of participation in various forms of physical activity and completed questionnaires assessing self-control, emotional regulation, and life satisfaction. The Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Brief Self-Control Scale were used to assess life satisfaction and dispositional self-control. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire was used to measure two different forms of emotion regulation: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Based on self-reported average minutes spent exercising per week, participants were classified into four levels of physical activity according to World Health Organization guidelines. The mediation analysis results showed that dispositional self-control and cognitive reappraisal fully mediated the relationship between physical activity level and life satisfaction. This suggests that regular physical activity may increase levels of self-control and cognitive reappraisal, which in turn leads to greater life satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of regular exercise in promoting well-being and increasing life satisfaction through its beneficial effects on self-control and emotion regulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1878physical activitylife satisfactionself-controlemotion regulationexpressive suppressioncognitive reappraisal |
| spellingShingle | Wiktor Potoczny Radosława Herzog-Krzywoszańska Łukasz Krzywoszański Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation Applied Sciences physical activity life satisfaction self-control emotion regulation expressive suppression cognitive reappraisal |
| title | Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation |
| title_full | Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation |
| title_fullStr | Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation |
| title_short | Regular Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction: Unpacking the Roles of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation |
| title_sort | regular physical activity and life satisfaction unpacking the roles of self control and emotion regulation |
| topic | physical activity life satisfaction self-control emotion regulation expressive suppression cognitive reappraisal |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1878 |
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