All physical activities are not created equal: differential effects of goal contents, psychological need satisfaction, and flow in physical activity on satisfaction with life

Abstract

Regular physical activity (PA) is linked with greater satisfaction with life (SWL), but is this efect equivalent for all PAs? Or do efects and causal paths of PA on SWL difer depending on goal contents in PA? PA practitioners (N=1900) reported goal contents in exercise (GCE), psychological need satisfaction (PNS), and fow in PA, as well as SWL. Cluster analyses and multi-group structural equation modeling were used to analyze diferential efects of study variables on SWL. Four clusters based on GCE were identifed and labeled (health-management, n=652; team-skill, n=412; social recognition, n=494; and low-goals, n=342). Diferential efects on SWL were observed via distinct causal paths: social afliation and relatedness predicted SWL in the health management cluster; skill development, competence, and fow in the team-skill cluster; and fow alone in the low-goals cluster. The amounts and the ways in which SWL can be derived from PA practice difer between clusters based on diferent goal contents. Thus, tailored PA programs may identify distinct goal profles in order to cater to these separately, orienting them towards either sports-like team practices fostering skill development, perceived competence, and fow; or individually practised and autonomously endorsed PAs facilitating health management, group afliation and relatedness.