Abstract

Background: Online behavior-change programs may increase physical activity in adolescents, but their effects on subjective health and wellbeing are not well known.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of a mobile physical activity intervention on life satisfaction and self-rated health among young adolescent men.

Methods: In this population-based study, 496 men (17.8y, SD 0.6y) participated in a 6-month trial. They were randomized into an intervention (n = 250) and a control group (n = 246). Only the intervention group had access to a tailored mobile service. Life satisfaction and self-rated health were inquired about at baseline and at the end of the trial.

Results: Life satisfaction improved in the intervention (p < 0.001) and control group (p = 0.01). Life satisfaction was most likely to improve among men with low baseline satisfaction (OR 13.8; 95% CI 3.7–51.8) and mood-related exercise motive (2.5 (1.1–5.6)). There were no statistically significant changes in self-rated health, but those who reported poor health at baseline (OR 9.6; 95% CI 3.7–24.9) and improved self-rated fitness during the trial (4.2 (1.5–11.9)) were more likely to gain improvements in self-rated health.

Conclusion: In this mobile physical activity intervention, improvements in self-rated health and life satisfaction were associated with low life satisfaction and poor self-rated health at baseline within the intervention group.