The Relationship Between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Subjective Well-Being: Gender Differences Among Slovak University Students

Background/Objectives: University students are a population vulnerable to psychological distress due to academic and lifestyle transitions. This study examined the relationships between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and subjective well-being among Slovak university students, with attention to gender-specific and non-linear patterns. Methods: A total of 1314 first-year students (69.5% women; mean age = 20.7 ± 1.4 years) completed the IPAQ-Short Form and the Bern Questionnaire on Subjective Well-Being (BSW/A). PA levels were categorized as low, moderate, or high according to standard MET thresholds. Group differences were analyzed using nonparametric tests with Benjamini–Hochberg FDR correction. Results: Higher PA levels were associated with more favorable well-being outcomes, particularly higher self-esteem and joy of life and lower depressed mood and somatic complaints. Effect sizes ranged from small to moderate. Gender-specific patterns emerged: among men, well-being indicators tended to plateau beyond moderate PA, whereas among women, moderate PA showed an inverse association with self-esteem despite slightly higher median scores in the moderate-activity group. Sedentary time showed weak and mostly non-significant associations after FDR correction. Conclusions: Physical activity was positively associated with subjective well-being in a non-linear, gender-dependent manner. These findings suggest that approaches to supporting student well-being may benefit from considering gender differences, individual activity patterns, and motivational context.