Long-Term Effect of Physical Activity on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems and Life Satisfaction

Sukkyung You, Kyulee Shin and Mihye Kim
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Sukkyung You: College of Education, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul 130-791, Korea
Kyulee Shin: Department of Sports Sciences, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea
Mihye Kim: Department of Kinesiology and Sports Studies, College of Science and Industry Convergence, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03722, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: This study examined the long-term effect of physical activity on life satisfaction from a sample of 2092 middle school students (52.5% male) in South Korea. Structural equation modeling analyses were employed to understand how various factors influence youth life satisfaction. Physical activity during physical education class had a long-term influence on life satisfaction through both internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors as mediating factors. Gender differences were found in the relationships between physical activity and life satisfaction. The current findings imply that encouraging students in early adolescence to actively engage in physical education potentially is a useful educational intervention method. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Keywords: physical education; physical activity; exercise; internalizing and externalizing problems; life satisfaction; longitudinal study; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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