Virtuous circle between physical activity and purpose in life among college students: the mediating role of positive affect

Purpose in Life (PIL) is a fundamental element of psychological well-being linked to various health outcomes and behaviors, including physical activity. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Drawing on positive psychology frameworks integrating hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, we hypothesized that positive affect mediates the associations between physical activity and PIL bidirectionally. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1158 college students (46.3% women; mean age = 19.75 years) completing measures of physical activity, positive affect, and PIL. Two sets of mediation analyses were performed to test the reciprocal relationships between physical activity and PIL, with positive affect as the mediator in both directions, while controlling for age, gender, and body mass index. Positive affect was found to mediate the relationship between physical activity and PIL in both directions. Specifically, higher levels of physical activity were associated with greater positive affect, which in turn was associated with a stronger sense of PIL. Similarly, higher levels of PIL are associated with enhanced positive affect, which in turn relates to increased physical activity. Our results indicate a pattern of reciprocal associations between physical activity and PIL. Future health promotion strategies should consider concurrently incorporating programs to increase physical activity levels, enhance positive affect, and foster a sense of purpose, thereby addressing health and well-being from a holistic standpoint.