Impact of Sports Participation on Life Satisfaction among University Students: The Mediating Role of Exercise Behavior
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jrsr/v.iv.239Keywords:
Sports Participation, Exercise Behavior, Life Satisfaction, Mediation, University Students, Khyber PakhtunkhwaAbstract
Life satisfaction is an important measurement of subjective well-being, and university years are a time when students' behaviour, health, and attitudes to life are significantly influenced. While participation in sporting activities is linked to increased life satisfaction, the channel through which this benefit is mediated remains poorly understood, especially among students in Pakistan. Based on Self-Determination Theory and the broaden-and-build perspective, this study investigated the relationship between sports participation and life satisfaction, as well as the mediating role of exercise behavior. A cross-sectional survey approach with a quantitative method was used. A sample of 323 students from a population of 1,682 sports sciences students from higher education institutions of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was selected through simple random sampling using Yamane's formula. Of these, 300 questionnaires were returned (92.9%). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, PROCESS-based mediation analysis (Sobel test), and independent-samples t-tests were used to analyze data. Sports participation, exercise behavior, and life satisfaction had positive and significant correlations (r = .624 to .781, p < .001). Sports participation and exercise behavior together accounted for 70.7% of the variance in life satisfaction (F = 358.17, p < .001). Sports participation significantly explained exercise behavior (b = .605), while exercise behavior significantly explained life satisfaction (b = .413). Exercise behavior was a significant partial mediator (ab = .250, Sobel z = 9.01, p < .001). No differences were found by educational level or residence, but younger students reported greater sports participation. Institutions should promote sports participation and sustained physical activity to improve students' well-being.
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