The role of daily physical activities in enhancing subjective well-being
among Chilean school-aged children
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to examine the association between
children’s participation in physical and sports activities and their
affective subjective well-being. Method: Data were drawn from the Second
Wave of the Children’s Worlds: International Survey of Children’s
Well-Being (ISCWeB), involving a sample of 913 Chilean children aged 10
and 12 years. Participants completed self-report measures assessing
feelings of happiness, sadness, stress, energy, and boredom (Positive
and Negative Affect - CW PNAS). Results: Participation in physical
activities and sports was significantly correlated with positive
well-being, indicating a strong link between such involvement and
perceived positive affect. Age and gender did not significantly
influence these outcomes. In contrast, lower participation in physical
and sports activities was significantly associated with higher negative
affect, with neither age nor gender showing substantial impact on this
result. Conclusions: This research employed structural equation modeling
to develop a model measuring Physical and Sports Activities (PSA) and
Subjective Well-Being in Chilean schoolchildren. The study confirms the
model’s effectiveness in explaining the relationship between children’s
SWB and PSA involvement. Analysis showed significant correlations
between indicators and emotional well-being factors. Findings emphasize
emotions like calmness, happiness, and stress in understanding the
affective dimensions of children’s well-being related to PSA.