Estimating the Effect of Physical Exercise on Juveniles’ Health Status and Subjective Well-Being in China

TitleEstimating the Effect of Physical Exercise on Juveniles’ Health Status and Subjective Well-Being in China
Publication TypeWorking Paper
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsGuan, J, Tena, JD
Number2018_11
ISBN Number978-88-9386-083-3
KeywordsChina, endogeneity, happiness, health, Instrumental Variables, Propensity score
Abstract

This study estimates the causal effect of physical exercise on health and happiness for Chinese junior high school students. We use a longitudinal database from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) which allows us to deal with the potential endogeneity of physical exercise by considering the use of instrumental variables and propensity score matching. Our findings suggest that physical exercise has a significantly positive effect on health, and also marginally improves students’ happiness. Moreover, these improvements affect all types of students, even those relatively unhappy or in poor health. It is also found that the positive impact on health is higher for females, rural and low-income students and for students attending to schools subjected to high academic pressure.

Citation Key7155
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