Abstract:
The purpose of the study.The relationship between physical activity and emotional well-being has gained significant attention in health research, yet limited studies have examined this association among Indonesian Physical Education students. Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing targeted interventions to promote mental health in academic settings.This study aimed to examine the relationship between physical activity levels and emotional well-being among Physical Education students.Materials and methods. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 245 Physical Education students (mean age 20.4 ± 1.8 years, 58% male). Physical activity levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), while emotional well-being was evaluated using the WHO-5 Well-being Index and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0 with correlation analysis and multiple regression modeling.Results.The study revealed a significant positive correlation between physical activity levels and emotional well-being (r = 0.67, p < 0.001). Students with high physical activity levels demonstrated significantly higher WHO-5 scores (M = 18.2 ± 3.1) compared to those with low activity levels (M = 12.4 ± 4.2, p < 0.001). Positive affect scores were significantly higher in the high activity group (M = 37.8 ± 6.2) versus the low activity group (M = 28.1 ± 7.4, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that physical activity accounted for 45% of the variance in emotional well-being scores (R² = 0.45, F(3,241) = 65.84, p < 0.001).Conclusions.This study provides evidence for a strong positive association between physical activity and emotional well-being among Indonesian Physical Education students. The findings suggest that promoting physical activity could be an effective strategy for enhancing emotional well-being in academic environments. These results have important implications for curriculum development and student support services in higher education institutions
