ArticleFrontiers in psychology2024
A study on the relationship between physical exercise and feelings of inferiority among college students: the chain mediating effect of social support and emotional regulation ability.
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 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Relationship Between Physical Activity, Social Support, and Life Satisfaction Among Female College Students: A Variable- and Person-Centered Analysis.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Understanding the mental health effects of social support among university students: a hybrid SEM-ANN approach.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Can middle school students counteract academic burnout through physical exercise? A cross-sectional study from China.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The relationship between physical exercise and social-emotional competence in college students: the chain mediation of peer relationships and self-efficacy.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The impact of intention to adopt generative AI for exercise information on exercise adherence among Chinese college students: the mediating role of autonomous motivation and network analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style, and personal control among physical education undergraduates in Rwanda: a correlational study of differences by gender, instructional support, and year of study.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Mental health literacy and anxiety in college students mediating role of psychological resilience and moderating role of physical exercise.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The chain mediating role of emotion regulation and stress perception in physical activity alleviating college students' health anxiety.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Associations between physical exercise and social-emotional competence in primary school children.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Self-Esteem and Feelings of Inferiority and Superiority Among Athletes and Non-Athletes.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2025Article
- #NoDaysOff: examining the relationship between exercise habits and lifestyle-based consumer behavior.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Cultural narratives of basketball participation and psychological resilience: a mixed-methods study among university students in China, the USA, and Europe.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of physical exercise on feelings of inferiority among college students, focusing on the mediating roles of social support and emotional regulation ability. The research investigates both direct and indirect pathways to understand how physical exercise enhances psychological resilience and mitigates negative self-perceptions. Methods: A sample of 2,036 college students from 15 provinces in China was surveyed using validated scales for physical exercise, feelings of inferiority, social support, and emotional regulation ability. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test hypothesized pathways, including direct effects and chain mediation effects. Gender invariance was assessed through multi-group analysis to ensure consistency across male and female participants. Results: Physical exercise significantly reduces feelings of inferiority, both directly and indirectly. Social support and emotional regulation ability independently mediate this relationship, with social support further enhancing emotional regulation in a sequential chain mediation effect. Gender invariance testing confirmed that these relationships are consistent for male and female students. Key findings indicate that physical exercise fosters social connections and strengthens emotional regulation, collectively promoting psychological resilience and reducing feelings of inferiority. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the critical role of physical exercise in enhancing mental health among college students through social and emotional pathways. Holistic intervention programs incorporating physical activities with social interaction and emotional skill-building can effectively alleviate feelings of inferiority. These insights provide actionable recommendations for educational institutions to promote mental health and foster inclusive, supportive campus environments.
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