Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Fat, and Physical Activity as Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Teachers and Preschool Education Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Rated Health

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the associations of physiological (VO2max), morphological (body fat percentage), and behavioral factors (physical activity levels) with life satisfaction among teacher education and preschool education students, with a particular focus on self-rated health as a potential statistical mediator. Methods: The sample consisted of 228 students (95% female; mean age = 21.96 ± 4.24 years). Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), self-rated health (SRH) with a single-item measure of general health, physical activity (PA) with the IPAQ-SF questionnaire, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max estimate) with the 20 m shuttle run test, and body fat percentage (BF%) with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Data were analyzed using hierarchical regression and mediation models with the PROCESS macro (Model 4). Results: SRH accounted for 17.2% of the variance in life satisfaction, emerging as the strongest correlate relative to physiological and morphological indicators. In the primary regression model, total PA accounted for an additional 2.3% of explained variance, whereas in a secondary parallel model, moderate PA accounted for 2.2%. Vigorous PA was not a significant correlate. Mediation analyses indicated that VO2max was not directly associated with life satisfaction but showed a statistically significant indirect association through SRH. No significant indirect associations were found for BF%, individual activity intensities, or total PA. Conclusions: The results highlight the relevance of perceptual and behavioral health indicators in understanding the relationships among PA, physical fitness, and psychological well-being in this student population. The findings provide preliminary insight into how multiple health-related dimensions may relate to life satisfaction, underscoring the need for longitudinal research before more confident interpretations of practical relevance can be made.