Relationship between physical activity and eudaimonic well-being in college students based on Ryff’s six-factor model of psychological well-being

Eudaimonic well-being, a key construct in positive psychology, is linked to both mental and physical health in college students. This study investigated how different intensities of physical activity (PA) correlate with multiple aspects of eudaimonic well-being among college students, using Ryff's six-factor model as a framework. A total of 1,131 undergraduate students (mean age = 19.74 years) completed questionnaires measuring different intensities of PA and various dimensions of eudaimonic well-being. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore associations between varying PA intensities and the six dimensions of eudaimonic well-being, controlling for gender, age, and Body Mass Index. Moderate-intensity PA was the most consistent predictor of multiple dimensions of eudaimonic well-being, including environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance (β = 0.09 to 0.14, p's < 0.01). Vigorous-intensity PA demonstrated positive associations with positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance (β = 0.09 to 0.10, p's < 0.01), whereas light-intensity PA was not significantly related to any dimensions of eudaimonic well-being (p's > 0.05). Our findings suggest that the association between PA and eudaimonic well-being differs based on both the intensity of PA and the specific aspect of eudaimonic well-being. Future research should continue to explore why specific intensities of PA are associated with particular dimensions of eudaimonic well-being.