SCIENCE@home

Predictors of Life Satisfaction in U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Health Status, Physical Activity, Employment, and Intersectional Factors

Hung Yin Lau,Sherrie M Welfel

Published 2025 in Cureus

ABSTRACT

Introduction Life satisfaction, a key indicator of well-being, is shaped by complex interactions between health, physical activity, employment, and demographic factors. Despite evidence linking these variables individually to well-being, their collective impact - particularly through an intersectional lens (e.g., age, sex, race) - remains inadequately studied. This study addresses gaps by analyzing how these factors jointly predict life satisfaction among U.S. adults, with implications for public health and policies. Objectives To investigate the relationship between self-reported overall health status, adherence to physical activity guidelines (including aerobic and strength-training exercises), employment status, and levels of life satisfaction among U.S. adults. Methods A secondary analysis of 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data of 27,648 adults examined self-reported health (ranging from excellent to poor), physical activity (none, aerobic, strength, or both), employment (≥35 hours/week), and life satisfaction. Using Goodman and Kruskal’s γ, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression (controlling for age, sex, race), the study assessed associations among these variables, individually and collectively, accounting for the survey's complex sampling design. The analysis adjusted for the NHIS’s stratified multistage sampling design and was performed using IBM SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with a significance level set at α=0.05. Results Health status demonstrated the most significant correlation (γ=0.514, p<0.001): 68.3% of individuals in "excellent" health indicated "very satisfied," compared to only 12.3% of those in "poor" health. Adherence to physical activity guidelines also significantly influenced satisfaction levels (χ²=625.43, p<0.001); individuals who met both aerobic and strength training guidelines had twice the odds of reporting high satisfaction (OR=2.423, p=0.016). Employment showed a weak association (χ²=9.99, p=0.019), with 80.7% of those working 35 hours or more per week reporting slightly higher satisfaction levels (47% "very satisfied") compared to non-workers (45.8%). Regression analysis highlighted health (OR=4.425 for "excellent" health, p<0.001) and physical activity (OR=2.241 for strength training, p=0.027) as key predictors of satisfaction. Older adults (OR=1.022 per year, p<0.001) and males reported higher satisfaction levels, whereas females exhibited lower odds of dissatisfaction (OR=0.683, p=0.008). Although racial disparities were not statistically significant, intersectional trends hinted at complex barriers, such as limited healthcare access within marginalized communities. Conclusion This study highlights the significant associations between health status, physical activity, and life satisfaction among U.S. adults, with better self-reported health and higher activity levels linked to greater well-being. However, employment status showed a weaker relationship, suggesting that workplace policies should prioritize holistic well-being over mere work hours. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to establish causality and explore subgroup differences, while public health interventions should promote physical activity and preventive healthcare to enhance life satisfaction. Policymakers and employers should integrate these findings into wellness programs to foster healthier, more satisfied communities.

PUBLICATION RECORD

CITATION MAP

EXTRACTION MAP

CLAIMS

  • No claims are published for this paper.

CONCEPTS

  • No concepts are published for this paper.

REFERENCES

Showing 1-22 of 22 references · Page 1 of 1

CITED BY

  • No citing papers are available for this paper.

Showing 0-0 of 0 citing papers · Page 1 of 1