Association of Socioeconomic Factors and Physical Activity with Health-Related Quality of Life in Italian Middle School Children: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides a broad assessment of an individual’s well-being and can serve as a good prognosticator of life’s outcomes later for children and adolescents. Understanding the factors associated with HRQoL is crucial for promoting better health and life satisfaction. This study investigated the cross-sectional association of socioeconomic status, cardio fitness, and physical activity levels with HRQoL in 224 Italian early adolescents attending secondary school in the Emilia-Romagna region located in Northern Italy. In a multivariate path regression model, younger students and females reported a higher quality of life (β = −0.139, p = 0.015, 95% CI: −0.254–−0.023 and β = 0.142, p = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.011–0.273, respectively). Having both parents employed and having a higher familiar educational status were also associated with a higher quality of life (β = 0.142, p = 0.013, 95% CI 0.027–0.257 and β = 0.133, p = 0.017, 95% CI 0.022–0.244, respectively). Greater engagement in routine physical activity levels from moderate to vigorous intensity was positively associated with quality of life (β = 0.429, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.304–0.554). Endurance (speed) was positively associated with quality of life (β = 0.221, p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.087–0.355), and students with longer times on the shuttle run reported less quality of life (β = −0.207, p = 0.002, 95% CI: −0.337–−0.077). These relations remained intact even when controlling for socioeconomic factors. The current findings reinforce the importance of promoting regular physical activity among younger children and also addressing socioeconomic status disparities to improve children’s well-being. Future studies may want to consider expanding the array of measures used to assess physical activity and include additional measures assessing nutrition, cultural factors, and family functioning, all of which can influence a child’s willingness to engage in physical activity and their well-being. The emphasis on fitness and physical activity and their contribution to a child’s well-being should be the prime focus for stakeholders who work in the education, public health, and health policy sectors.