Longitudinal Study on Correlations Between Body Image, Physical Activity, and the Subjective Well-Being Among Adolescents Aged 14-16

Noora Matilainen; Hugo Blomberg; Ann-Christin Sollerhed; Eva-Lena Einberg; Pernilla Garmy

doi:10.1177/10598405231191281

Longitudinal Study on Correlations Between Body Image, Physical Activity, and the Subjective Well-Being Among Adolescents Aged 14-16

J Sch Nurs. 2023 Jul 31:10598405231191281. doi: 10.1177/10598405231191281. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Noora Matilainen¹, Hugo Blomberg¹, Ann-Christin Sollerhed², Eva-Lena Einberg¹, Pernilla Garmy^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
² Department of Primary Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
³ Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

PMID: 37525564
DOI: 10.1177/10598405231191281

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between physical activity, body image, and subjective well-being among Swedish adolescents over time. Surveying 2308 students, with 137 providing longitudinal data, we conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis. No significant correlations were found between physical activity (p = .268), body functioning (p = .567), or body appearance (p = .075) at age 14 and subjective well-being at age 16. Among control variables, sex (p = .038) and subjective well-being at age 14 (p = .013) showed significant correlations, while economic status did not (p = .39). The correlation between a positive subjective well-being at age 14 and age 16 indicates the importance of impacting the sense of well-being early. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the potential long-term correlation between body image and adolescent subjective well-being.

Keywords: adolescents; body appearance; body functioning; body image; perceived well-being; physical activity; subjective well-being.