Active Students are Healthier and Happier than Their Inactive Peers: of First Year Students Studying in Kuwait University: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of PA on the health and happiness of first-year students at the College of Education, Kuwait University. Methods: The final analysis of the cross-sectional study included 1454 male and female students. Happiness was evaluated using the Short Depression and Happiness Scale (SDHS), and PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS. Mann-Whitney U test and ANOVA test were used to compare PA levels between genders and happy and depressed groups. Results: Happiness was high in 83% of the students and low in 17%. PA levels were high in the students, with a median total PA among the participating students of 1810.9 MET-minutes/week. Male students were more active, with a median total score of 2402 MET-minutes/week, compared to females, with a median total score of 2312 MET-minutes/week. A significant association was observed between happiness and PA levels among the students. Statistically significant differences were found for PA and happy students (p = 0.001), and statistically significant differences were found for PA and depressed students (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The happiness among most first-year students was high, with a slight difference between males and females. The levels of PA among these students were high, especially among males. PA levels were significantly associated with happiness among first-year students. Thus, active students were happier and healthier than inactive students.