Brighten A Bad Day

People’s satisfaction with life rates higher on days when they exercise more than usual.   Jaclyn Maher, from Penn State (Pennsylvania, USA), and colleagues examined the influence of physical activity on satisfaction with life among young adults, ages 18 to 25 years.  The first group, consisting of 190 individuals, entered information into a diary every day for eight days. The second group, consisting of 63 individuals, entered information into a secure website every day for 14 days. Both groups were assessed for satisfaction with life, physical activity and self-esteem.  The team determined that the amount of physical activity a person undertakes in a particular day directly influences his or her satisfaction with life. In particular, the investigators observed that by exercising just a little more than usual a person can significantly improve his or her satisfaction with life. Reporting that: “[satisfaction with life] was impacted by people’s daily [physical activity],” the study authors conclude that: “These findings extend evidence that [physical activity] is a health behavior with important consequences for daily well-being.”