Participating in a half marathon to achieve a new personal best can promote our development.
- In a study on running, Swedish researchers looked at two types of needs: those that provide pleasure and joy “here and now”, and those that are linked to well-being through development staff.
- Runners who have experienced strong sensations and have long-term goals are more fulfilled.
- “We used to think that immediate pleasure was most important. But it is needs that determine which of these two paths leads to a person’s happiness.”
Sports activities that provide physical satisfaction, social interaction and a sense of personal fulfillment make us feel good, because they are immersive experiences that influence our well-being. But is it the joy of the moment or the long-term pursuit of a goal that brings us the most happiness? This is the question asked by researchers at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden). To answer this, they carried out a study, the results of which were published in the journal Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism.
Running: personal development, the key to happiness
As part of the research, the authors followed 900 people who participated in the Göteborgsvarvet, a half marathon in Sweden. To measure runners’ happiness, they looked at how their needs were met. The team also focused on two types of needs: those that provide pleasure and joy “here and now”, and those that are linked to well-being through personal development. “Exploratory factor analysis as well as structural equation modeling are used to analyze the data and test the links between needs, hedonic satisfaction and eudimonic satisfaction.”
According to the results, experiencing thrills and setting long-term goals makes runners happy. “The study nuances our understanding of what makes us happy. We used to think that immediate pleasure was most important. But it’s needs that determine which of these two paths leads to a person’s happiness.”explained John Armbrechtwho supervised the work.
Provide activities and experiences that are both fun and meaningful for runners
As interest in running races continues to increase, researchers suggest that understanding participants’ needs can help organizers improve the design and content of an event. As runners’ needs vary, organizers should provide activities and experiences that are both fun and meaningful.
