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Academic Performance and Physical Activities as Positive Factors for Life Satisfaction among University Students

Author

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  • Teodora Slavinski

    (Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Dragan Bjelica

    (Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Dejana Pavlović

    (Institute of Economic Sciences, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Valentina Vukmirović

    (Institute of Economic Sciences, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia)

Abstract

Life satisfaction influences sustainable personal growth among students by ensuring that they more firmly apply themselves in their education. Universities represent an environment where students may improve their life satisfaction through better academic performance and being engaged in extracurricular sport. This study evaluates life satisfaction (LS) among university students, 18 to 28 years of age to confirm whether academic performance, involvement in sports and physical activity are factors relating to higher levels of LS among university students. The study uses the Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale. Over a three-year timeframe, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of 875 students across areas of study in institutions of higher education in Serbia. The data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests. LS among students is found to be significantly improved under the following conditions: removing the burden to pay for one’s tuition, having a better Grade Point Average (GPA) as well as being involved in sport. Moreover, the optimum level of physical activity to positively affect LS is found to be four to five hours a week.

Suggested Citation

  • Teodora Slavinski & Dragan Bjelica & Dejana Pavlović & Valentina Vukmirović, 2021. "Academic Performance and Physical Activities as Positive Factors for Life Satisfaction among University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:497-:d:476079
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Kürsat Hazar & Kubilay Senbakar, 2020. "The Relationship between Exercise Addiction and Satisfaction with Life in Physical Education and Sport Department Students," Asian Journal of Education and Training, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 6(1), pages 12-17.
    3. Kevin Fosnacht & Alexander C. McCormick & Rosemarie Lerma, 2018. "First-Year Students’ Time Use in College: A Latent Profile Analysis," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 59(7), pages 958-978, November.
    4. Kürşat Hazar & Kubilay Şenbakar, 2020. "The Relationship between Exercise Addiction and Satisfaction with Life in Physical Education and Sport Department Students," Asian Journal of Education and Training, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 6(1), pages 12-17.
    5. Louis Tay & Cassondra Batz & Scott Parrigon & Lauren Kuykendall, 2017. "Debt and Subjective Well-being: The Other Side of the Income-Happiness Coin," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 903-937, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen Liao & Liying Nong & Yu-Feng Wu & Yu-Tai Wu & Jian-Hong Ye, 2023. "The Relationships between University Students’ Physical Activity Needs, Involvement, Flow Experience and Sustainable Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Hanying Zhang & Yuke Qin & Sabika Khalid & Endale Tadesse & Chunhai Gao, 2023. "A Systematic Review of the Impact of Physical Activity on Cognitive and Noncognitive Development in Chinese University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-11, January.

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