IS EXERCISE THE BIGGEST INFLUENCER OF HAPPINESS? RESEARCHING HOW INFLUENTIAL EXERCISE IS IN COMPARISON TO OTHER VARIABLES IN DAILY LIFE

Abstract

There have been multiple studies that indicate that there is a relationship between exercise and happiness. In this research, I test whether exercise is the strongest factor when compared to other common variables in a person's life for predicting happiness. Using the 2012 General Social Survey (GSS) data, I test several different variables in order to determine which of them has the strongest correlation with a person's general happiness. The 2012 GSS consisted of 4,820 respondents that ranged in age from 18 to 89. Using logistic regression, I compare the variables of sex, marriage, age, frequency of exercise, employment, and income and found that exercise has a positive relationship with a person's general happiness and that is the most strongly correlated variable. Other variables were also found to be significant and will be discussed in the poster.