Associations between self-rated health, life satisfaction and physical activity among adolescents in Saudi Arabia

Empirical evidence has shown that health status and life satisfaction are strongly correlated and connected to physical activity. However, no previous research has examined the association of physical activity (PA) with self-rated health (SRH) and life satisfaction (LS) among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of male adolescents (n=453; age 15–20 years) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The objective was to investigate the association between LS and SRH with PA in adolescents, taking into account socio-demographic variables. A pre-tested validated questionnaire was used to collect data using a stratified sampling technique. An estimated 354 (78.5%) adolescents reported being healthy, and 98 (21.7%) were satisfied with their lives. The logistic regression analysis revealed that adolescents’ SRH was independently associated with their sense of LS (AOR=2.5, 95%CI: 1.5-4.3, P≤0.001). Also, the odds of reporting being healthy increased 2.5 times for being moderate active (95%CI: 1.5-4.3, P<0.001) and 3.4 times for being highly active (95%CI: 2.0-5.8, P≤0.001), as compared to non-active adolescents. Moreover, adjusted logistic regression showed that adolescents’ LS was independently associated with high level of their father’s education (AOR=1.8, 95%CI: 1.2-3.0, P=0.023); studying in private schools (AOR=1.9, 95%CI: 1.3-2.9, P≤0.011) and being highly active (AOR=3.0, 95%CI: 1.6-4.2, P=0.007). SRH and LS are determinants of each other, and both variables were independently associated with PA levels. Programs that increase PA may promote life satisfaction and health status in the adolescent population. Therefore, it is important to promote physical activity amongst them, create a sport-friendly environment, and engage adolescents in physical activity during their free time by broadening access to more sports classes and other forms of assistance. This is also an important method of enhancing adolescents’ life satisfaction and better health.