IMPACT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION ON LIFE SATISFACTION: MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE: A SURVEY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICTS, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This research studies the impact of physical education on life satisfaction amid college students in southern districts of Punjab, Pakistan, with emphasis on mediating roles of psychological stress and emotional resilience. The physical education is recognized increasingly as the key factor in promoting physical health, psychological well-being, and its specific effects on life satisfaction remain explored inadequately in the context of education in Pakistan. The study employs a cross-sectional survey design, gathering data from a diverse sample of college students across multiple institutions in the southern districts of Punjab. The data were analyzed using statistical procedure to assess the direct effects of physical education on life satisfaction and to explore the mediating roles of emotional resilience and psychological stress. The findings reveal that physical education is associated positively with higher life satisfaction. This relationship is mediated partially by psychological stress, where lower stress is linked to greater life satisfaction. Moreover, emotional resilience plays a critical role, serving as buffer against adverse effects of stress and enhancing overall life satisfaction. The study underscores the importance of physical education as the crucial element in the holistic development of students, extending its benefits beyond the physical health to include significant emotional and psychological gains. These results suggest that well-structured physical education programs be powerful tool in fostering emotional resilience and reducing psychological stress, thereby contributing towards greater life satisfaction among students. The implications of these findings are particularly relevant for educators and policymakers in Pakistan, as they highlight the need for integrated approaches that combine psychological and physical health initiatives in educational settings. These mediating factors suggest that physical education not only donates to physical health but also plays a vital role in psychological well-being. This research provides the foundation for future studies to explore these relationships and to develop targeted interventions aimed at enhancing student well-being through physical education in order to produce the new knowledge and contribute the existing literature on the issues under considerations in particular situations and context.   

Keywords: Physical Education, Life Satisfaction, Psychological Stress & Emotional Resilience