Physical activities predict life satisfaction Among manufacturing employees: Fatigue as a moderating factor

Background High-intensity work and rising occupational stress in manufacturing highlight the need to examine protective factors like physical activity. Objective This study explored the impact of physical activity attitudes and behavior on work stress and life satisfaction among Chinese manufacturing employees. Methods A cluster-sampled cross-sectional survey recruited 1202 factory employees (mean age 26.76 ± 5.33 years; 482 females, 720 males) and collected data on physical activity levels, attitudes, work stress, and life satisfaction in the factory of China. Results The findings revealed that: (1) varying levels of physical activity influenced attitudes towards physical activity (F(2626) = 5.695, p = 0.004) and life satisfaction (F(2626) = 3.135, p = 0.044), but had no significant effect on work stress; (2) a positive attitude towards physical activity correlated positively with life satisfaction ( r = 0.199, p < 0.001) and physical activity levels ( r = 0.170, p < 0.001), while negatively with work stress ( p s < 0.001); (3) the positive attitude towards physical activity, coupled with moderate physical activity levels, contributed to an enhancement in employees’ life satisfaction. Additionally, the effect of physical activity attitude on life satisfaction was moderated by fatigue levels (β = -0.004, SE = 0.002, p = 0.044). Conclusion Employees’ attitudes towards physical activity are closely related to their performance in physical activities and significantly predict their life satisfaction. Fatigue emerges as a moderating factor in this relationship.