Mental health improvements found to be key driver of life satisfaction

A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that improvements in mental health were the strongest predictor of increased life satisfaction. Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University, led by Professor Steve Haake, developed a new model to evaluate changes in life satisfaction, using participants of Parkrun—a free weekly 5k running event in the UK—as a case study.

Over 78,000 parkrun participants responded to a survey assessing life satisfaction, mental and physical health, and activity levels. The study revealed that while physical activity contributed to better health outcomes, it was the improvements in mental wellbeing—such as happiness, a sense of achievement, and enjoyment—that had the most significant impact on participants' life satisfaction.

Participants who started with poor health showed the greatest potential for improvement, suggesting that public health initiatives can yield substantial wellbeing benefits for those most in need. The research also confirmed known patterns, such as lower life satisfaction in early middle age and greater improvements among older adults and women.

The study's authors noted that their model can be applied beyond Parkrun to assess the effectiveness of various public health programmes, even those not directly health-related. They highlighted the model's potential to guide policy decisions in resource-limited settings by identifying which interventions most effectively boost wellbeing.

The findings supported not only the health benefits of community exercise but also its significant economic value, with an estimated £668 million in national savings.