Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Fat, and Physical Activity as Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Teachers and Preschool Education Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Rated Health

<b>Objectives:</b> This study aimed to examine the associations of physiological (VO₂max), morphological (body fat percentage), and behavioral factors (physical activity levels) with life satisfaction among teacher education and preschool education students, with a particular focus on self-rated health as a potential statistical mediator. <b>Methods:</b> The sample consisted of 228 students (95% female; mean age = 21.96 ± 4.24 years). Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), self-rated health (SRH) with a single-item measure of general health, physical activity (PA) with the IPAQ-SF questionnaire, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max estimate) with the 20 m shuttle run test, and body fat percentage (BF%) with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression and mediation models with the PROCESS macro (Model 4). <b>Results:</b> SRH accounted for 17.2% of the variance in life satisfaction, emerging as the strongest correlate relative to physiological and morphological indicators. In the primary regression model, total PA accounted for an additional 2.3% of explained variance, whereas in a secondary parallel model, moderate PA accounted for 2.2%. Vigorous PA was not a significant correlate. Mediation analyses indicated that VO₂max was not directly associated with life satisfaction but showed a statistically significant indirect association through SRH. No significant indirect associations were found for BF%, individual activity intensities, or total PA. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results highlight the relevance of perceptual and behavioral health indicators in understanding the relationships among PA, physical fitness, and psychological well-being in this student population. The findings provide preliminary insight into how multiple health-related dimensions may relate to life satisfaction, underscoring the need for longitudinal research before more confident interpretations of practical relevance can be made.