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 effect equivalent for all PAs? Or do effects and causal paths of PA on SWL differ depending on goal contents in PA? PA practitioners (N = 1900) reported goal contents in exercise (GCE), psychological need satisfaction (PNS), and flow in PA, as well as SWL. Cluster analyses and multi-group structural equation modeling were used to analyze differential effects of study variables on SWL. Four clusters based on GCE were identified and labeled (health-management, n = 652; team-skill, n = 412; social-recognition, n = 494; and low-goals, n = 342). Differential effects on SWL were observed via distinct causal paths: social affiliation and relatedness predicted SWL in the health-management cluster; skill development, competence, and flow in the team-skill cluster; and flow alone in the low-goals cluster. The amounts and the ways in which SWL can be derived from PA practice differ between clusters based on different goal contents. Thus, tailored PA programs may identify distinct goal profiles in order to cater to these separately, orienting them towards either sports-like team practices fostering skill development, perceived competence, and flow; or individually practised and autonomously endorsed PAs facilitating health management, group affiliation and relatedness.