<p>Extending the normal exercise routine by a few minutes could ensure higher satisfaction levels among young adults aged 18-25 years. <br /><br /></p>.<p>“We found that people’s satisfaction with life was directly impacted by their daily physical activity," said study author Jaclyn Maher, graduate student in kinesiology at the Penn State University.<br /><br />“The findings reinforce the idea that physical activity is a health behaviour with important consequences for daily well-being and should be considered when developing national policies to enhance satisfaction with life,” added Maher, the journal Health Psychology reports.<br /><br />The researchers examined the influence of physical activity on satisfaction with life among emerging adults aged 18-25 years because this population's sense of well-being appears to worsen more quickly than at any other time during adulthood, according to a Penn statement.<br /><br />"Emerging adults are going through a lot of changes; they are leaving home for the first time and attending college or starting jobs," said Maher. <br /><br />"As a result, their satisfaction with life can plummet. We decided to focus on emerging adults because they stand to benefit the most from strategies to enhance satisfaction with life."<br /><br />Information<br /><br />The researchers recruited two groups of college students at Penn State. The first group, consisting of 190 individuals, entered information into a diary every day for eight days.<br /><br />The second group of 63 individuals, entered information into a secure website every day for 14 days. Both groups answered questions aimed at determining participants' satisfaction with life, physical activity and self-esteem.<br /><br />"Shifts in depression, anxiety and stress would be expected to influence a person's satisfaction with life at any given point in time," said David Conroy, professor of kinesiology.<br /><br />Specifically, the team found that by exercising just a little more than usual a person can significantly improve his or her satisfaction with life.<br /></p>
<p>Extending the normal exercise routine by a few minutes could ensure higher satisfaction levels among young adults aged 18-25 years. <br /><br /></p>.<p>“We found that people’s satisfaction with life was directly impacted by their daily physical activity," said study author Jaclyn Maher, graduate student in kinesiology at the Penn State University.<br /><br />“The findings reinforce the idea that physical activity is a health behaviour with important consequences for daily well-being and should be considered when developing national policies to enhance satisfaction with life,” added Maher, the journal Health Psychology reports.<br /><br />The researchers examined the influence of physical activity on satisfaction with life among emerging adults aged 18-25 years because this population's sense of well-being appears to worsen more quickly than at any other time during adulthood, according to a Penn statement.<br /><br />"Emerging adults are going through a lot of changes; they are leaving home for the first time and attending college or starting jobs," said Maher. <br /><br />"As a result, their satisfaction with life can plummet. We decided to focus on emerging adults because they stand to benefit the most from strategies to enhance satisfaction with life."<br /><br />Information<br /><br />The researchers recruited two groups of college students at Penn State. The first group, consisting of 190 individuals, entered information into a diary every day for eight days.<br /><br />The second group of 63 individuals, entered information into a secure website every day for 14 days. Both groups answered questions aimed at determining participants' satisfaction with life, physical activity and self-esteem.<br /><br />"Shifts in depression, anxiety and stress would be expected to influence a person's satisfaction with life at any given point in time," said David Conroy, professor of kinesiology.<br /><br />Specifically, the team found that by exercising just a little more than usual a person can significantly improve his or her satisfaction with life.<br /></p>