Research Article

The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

Volume: 16 Number: 3 December 26, 2025

The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effect of regular exercise on depression (happiness), mental well-being, and life satisfaction. The research employed a pre-test/post-test control group experimental design. The study was conducted in 2024 in a gym in Balıkesir, Turkey, with 30 participants. During the study, a functional training method was applied to the experimental group for eight weeks, twice a week, with each session lasting one hour. Meanwhile, the control group did not perform any exercises. At the beginning of the study and after eight weeks, both the control and experimental groups were administered the "Personal Information Form, Short Form of Mental Well-Being Scale, Depression and Happiness Scale-Short Form, and Life Satisfaction Scale". According to the findings obtained in the study, the mental well-being rate increased by 42.86% in the experimental group and decreased by -3.01% in the control group; the life satisfaction rate increased by 97.20% in the experimental group and decreased by -1.41% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups in favor of the experimental group. In the final finding of the study, it was determined that the happiness rate increased by 22.87% in the experimental group and by 4.95% in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, it can be stated that functional training enhances mental well-being, life satisfaction, and overall happiness.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physical Activity and Health

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

December 8, 2025

Publication Date

December 26, 2025

Submission Date

March 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 3

APA
Eker, D., & Turan, S. (2025). The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, 16(3), 756-780. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1649389
AMA
1.Eker D, Turan S. The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025;16(3):756-780. doi:10.54141/psbd.1649389
Chicago
Eker, Duygu, and Serhat Turan. 2025. “The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16 (3): 756-80. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1649389.
EndNote
Eker D, Turan S (December 1, 2025) The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16 3 756–780.
IEEE
[1]D. Eker and S. Turan, “The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction”, Pamukkale J Sport Sci, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 756–780, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.54141/psbd.1649389.
ISNAD
Eker, Duygu - Turan, Serhat. “The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 16/3 (December 1, 2025): 756-780. https://doi.org/10.54141/psbd.1649389.
JAMA
1.Eker D, Turan S. The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025;16:756–780.
MLA
Eker, Duygu, and Serhat Turan. “The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction”. Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, vol. 16, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 756-80, doi:10.54141/psbd.1649389.
Vancouver
1.Duygu Eker, Serhat Turan. The Effect of Regular Exercise on Depression, Mental Well-Being and Life Satisfaction. Pamukkale J Sport Sci. 2025 Dec. 1;16(3):756-80. doi:10.54141/psbd.1649389