ESRI Research Seminar: “Aging, Physical Activity, and Subjective Well-Being: The Changing Impact of Participation Intensity”

Venue: ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2

Speakers: Bernd Frick

Previous research has found that physical activity significantly adds to subjective well-being among all age groups. However, the effect of the intensity of physical activity has not yet been investigated. This paper, therefore, examines the impact of participation intensity (moderate vs. vigorous) on subjective well-being (measured using life satisfaction) and investigates whether there are differences between age groups. Official survey data from 28 European countries are used for the analysis.

Controlling for a range of factors that can affect peoples’ subjective well-being, the paper finds that the more days per week individuals aged between 18 and 49 years, and 70 years and older, engage in physical activity at moderate intensity the happier they are. Among the 50- to 69-year-olds, the happiness returns from engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity are decreasing with increasing number of days of practice. Vigorous-intensity activity only adds to the subjective well-being of individuals aged between 40 and 59 years.

The findings suggest that the impact of physical activity participation intensity on subjective well-being differs considerably between age groups. In particular, practising at vigorous intensity only adds to the subjective well-being of those aged between 40 and 59 years. Thus, general physical activity recommendations, such as those by the World Health Organisation, should be reconsidered. In addition, separate recommendations should be made for various age groups taking the varying impact of participation intensity into account.

Bernd Frick is a Professor of Organisational, Media, and Sport Economics in the Faculty of Management and Economics in the University of Paderborn Germany. He studied sociology, economics and political science at the University of Trier (Germany), at Clark University (Worcester, MA) and at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA). His research interests are in labour and personnel economics, organisational economics and sports economics. Dr. Frick has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals (e.g., British Journal of Industrial Relations, European Journal of Sport Management, European Journal of Public Health, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Journal of Sports Economics and Labour), as well as more than 50 chapters in edited volumes and six books. His earlier life experiences as a football player and a competitive marathon runner have contributed to his motivation for the research presented in this seminar.