While many studies have highlighted the benefits of sport on depressionthe results of a study published in the medical journal Journal of Happiness Studies claim that physical activity would also be beneficial for satisfaction.
Researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a meta-analysis of 23 studies on happiness and physical activity to understand which aspects of physical activity were associated with happiness and which populations were likely to benefit from the effects.
The studies included information on the health of adults, the elderly, adolescents, children and survivors of the cancer from several countries.
The results of the study showed whether insufficiently active people were still more likely (+20%) to be happy than those who did not exert themselves at all. This figure increased to +29% in sufficiently active participants and peaked at +52% in very active volunteers.
Scientists have also observed that there is a threshold for improving one’s well-being. Indeed, a number of studies have revealed that the levels of satisfaction were identical whether one was active between 150 and 300 minutes per week or more than 300 minutes per week.
Positive effects on all age groups
The benefits of sport on different age groups. But, increasing physical activity would be effective in helping women facing a ovarian cancerchildren and adolescents with cerebral palsy, as well as drug addicts.
“Our results suggest that physical activity frequency and volume are critical factors in the relationship between physical activity and happiness,” said Weiyun Chen, associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Michigan. “Most importantly, even a small change in physical activity makes a difference in happiness.”
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