Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction in Youth: Multilevel Analysis from HBSC Luxembourg 2006-2022

Abstract Introduction Physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in promoting adolescents’ well-being; however, its influence on life satisfaction over time remains underexplored. This study aims to understand how PA levels affect life satisfaction in a large cohort of adolescents over time. Methods We analysed data from 40,824 adolescents who participated in the HBSC Luxembourg surveys from 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 using a linear mixed-effects model regression. The outcome variable was life satisfaction (rated from 1 to 10), and the predictor was PA, categorized as inactive, insufficient, or sufficient. We controlled for sex, age group, and socioeconomic status as covariates. A random effect was included for the year of observation (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022) to account for temporal variations. The model was estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method. Results The analysis showed that adolescents with insufficient or sufficient PA reported significantly higher life satisfaction compared to their inactive peers across the time points. The year variable exhibited a significant negative effect (β = -0.86247, p < 0.001), suggesting a decline in life satisfaction over time. Notably, the interaction between PA and year was significant for both insufficient (β = 0.34548, p = 0.009) and sufficient activity levels (β = 0.44106, p = 0.008), indicating that the effect of PA on life satisfaction intensified over the years. Discussion/Conclusions Our findings highlight the significant relationship between life satisfaction and PA among adolescents, with a growing effect over time. Adolescents with insufficient or sufficient PA reported higher life satisfaction compared to their inactive peers. These results underscore the importance of encouraging PA to enhance adolescents’ mental well-being and suggest that promoting active lifestyles could help improve youth satisfaction over time, especially in the context of ongoing societal changes. Key messages • Life satisfaction among adolescents has declined from 2006 to 2022, but engaging in physical activity - even at insufficient levels - helps buffer this downward trend. • Adolescents who engage in physical activity report higher life satisfaction over time, with the positive effects of physical activity becoming stronger in more recent years.