The mediating role of sport-specific PERMA in the relationship between physical activity/passive sport and global well-being/loneliness

Abstract

The current study examined the mediating role of sport-specific PERMA in the relationship between physical activity/passive sport consumption and global well-being/loneliness. We collected data to establish two-wave panel data for a sample of 481 participants across Japan. Structural equation modeling was performed to examine the hypothesis model. The results showed that sport-specific eudaimonic well-being significantly mediated the hypothesized relationships between PA/passive sport consumption and all dependent variables, including life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and loneliness. The results indicate that eudaimonic well-being in sport plays a key role in increasing global well-being and decreasing loneliness. These findings can help authorities optimize local resources as promoting and maintaining individual well-being is essential for society. The results contribute to understanding the role of sport-specific PERMA in global well-being and loneliness in the body of literature.