Understanding Health Promotion Through the Lens of the Life Course Perspective.

With the use of SHARE data and through the life course perspective, the chapter will analyze and discuss the relationship between physical activity and perceived health among subjects of different age groups, with reference to the elderly. The analysis will be conducted on a model that considers several indicators such as age, socio-economic status (SES), gender, and so on which will allow for a greater understanding of the relevance of physical activity for the attainment of well-being and good health. The analysis underscores the critical role of a healthy lifestyle in enhancing life expectancy, drawing on the theoretical frameworks of chance of life, habitus, and life course perspective to explain health behaviors. The chapter further explores the contribution of social activities and community engagement to overall well-being, providing empirical evidence from recent studies on the mental and physical health benefits of physical activity, including anxiety reduction, cognitive enhancement, and disease prevention.