ArticleFrontiers in psychology2024
The effect of physical activity on depression in university students: the mediating role of self-esteem and positive psychological capital.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed.
- Exploring Physical Activity and Barriers to Exercise in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults Initiating or Continuing Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.Journal of physical activity & health · 2026Article
- Exploring the association between physical activity and life satisfaction among college students.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Association Between Weekly Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Emotional Intelligence Factors in Spanish Adolescents: Perspectives for Digital and Gamified Interventions.Journal of Intelligence · 2026Article
- Association between physical activity and depression in university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis with public health implications.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Review
- Longitudinal associations between physical activity and negative emotions among college students: the chain mediating roles of exercise self-efficacy and psychological resilience.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Personality Trait Dimensions and Depressive Symptoms Among Medical Students: Sequential Mediation Through Psychological Capital and Perceived Stress.Depression and anxiety · 2026Article
- Perceived Stress and Depression Among College Students in Shanghai: Psychological Resilience as a Potential Protective Factor Across Physical Activity Levels in a Cross-Sectional Study.Psychology research and behavior management · 2026Article
- Research on the influence of physical activity on procrastination behavior of medical postgraduates.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The relationship between physical exercise and depression among college students: the chain mediating role of self-efficacy and self-identity.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The impact of physical exercise on depression among college students: the mediating role of core self-evaluation and meaning in life.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- A study on the cross-lagged relationships between adolescents' sport participation and self-control ability and mental health.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The role of self-esteem between perceived social support and positive Psycap in middle school students based on network analysis and mediation model.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Sleep Quality and Sex-Specific Physical Activity Benefits Predict Mental Health in Romanian Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Depression in College Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Brain sciences · 2025Review
- The influence of physical activity on the mental health of high school students: the chain mediating effects of social support and self-esteem.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- An exploratory framework for EEG-based monitoring of motivation and performance in athletic-like scenarios.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Influence of Lifestyle Habits on Psychological Well-Being of University Students: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The impact of lifestyle sports on the sleep quality of depressed high school students in Jiangsu Province, China: based on cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- The relationship between physical exercise and Chinese college students' career decision-making difficulties: a chain mediating model of psychological capital and employment attitude.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- The relationship between physical activity and mental toughness among Chinese university students: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and social support.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and depression among college students, focusing on the mediating role of self-esteem and positive psychological capital. Methods: Group psychological measurements were conducted on 579 students using various scales, including the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). The data was analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and bootstrap methods to test and analyze the effects. Results: A negative correlation between physical exercise and depressive mood, with physical exercise significantly predicting college students' depressive mood. Additionally, physical exercise was found to positively predict self-esteem and positive psychological capital, both of which are negatively predictive of depressive mood. Self-esteem and positive psychological capital were identified as significant mediators between physical exercise and depressive mood, with three mediating paths: physical exercise, self-esteem, and depressed mood (Path 1), exhibited an indirect effect of 0.017, with the bootstrap 95% confidence interval excluding 0 (LLCI = -0.051, ULCI = -0.004) and accounting for 8.30% of the total effect. Physical exercise, positive psychological capital, and depression emotion (Path 2), had an indirect effect of 0.049, with the bootstrap 95% confidence interval also not containing 0 (LLCI = -0.088, ULCI = -0.011) and contributing to 23.90% of the total effect. Physical exercise, self-esteem, positive psychological capital, depressed mood (Path 3), demonstrated an indirect effect of 0.006, with the bootstrap 95% confidence interval excluding 0 (LLCI = -0.011, ULCI = -0.001) and representing 2.90% of the total effect. Conclusion: Physical exercise negatively predicts depressive mood among college students and has a mediating effect through self-esteem and positive psychological capital, creating a chain-like impact on their depressive symptoms.
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