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Estimating the effect of physical exercise on juveniles’ health status and subjective well-being in China

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  • Jing Guan
  • J.D. Tena

Abstract

Despite the increasing interest in analysing determinants of health status and subjective well-being, existing research has been mainly confined to developed countries’ adult population. This paper estimates the effect of physical exercise on the health and happiness of Chinese adolescent. Using a comprehensive database from the China Education Panel Survey (number of observations: 5975), different methodologies, including instrumental variable and propensity score matching approaches, are applied. We find that physical exercise has a significantly positive effect on health. Our results also suggest some evidence of a positive impact of exercise on well-being. This effect is robust to different econometric approaches, exercise participation measurements, and characteristics of students and schools and families. However, exercise benefits become evident even when it is practised with low frequency, i.e. one day per week. Moreover, physical exercise exerts a higher impact on students with poorer health and higher levels of unhappiness. Our results highlight the beneficial impact of political decisions aiming to incentivize physical exercise to improve adolescents’ health status in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Guan & J.D. Tena, 2021. "Estimating the effect of physical exercise on juveniles’ health status and subjective well-being in China," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(46), pages 5385-5396, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:53:y:2021:i:46:p:5385-5396
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2021.1922594
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    Cited by:

    1. Guan, Jing & Tena, J.D., 2022. "Physical activity, leisure-time, cognition and academic grades: Connections and causal effects in Chinese students," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Jingyi Wang & Jing Guan & Guojun Wang, 2023. "Impact of long‐term care insurance on the health status of middle‐aged and older adults," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 558-573, March.
    3. Yang, Liuhui & Li, Ruoyi, 2025. "Government governance, family financial support, and financial well-being of the elderly: Evidence from CHARLS Data," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    4. Yun, Liping & Mao, Zhihong, 2025. "Psychological security, financial market participation, and residents' subjective well-being: An empirical analysis based on CFPS data," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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