ArticleScientific reports2025
Physical activity enhances college students' mental health through social adaptability and exercise behavior chain mediation.
Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed.
- The impact of the flipped classroom model on college students' physical exercise behavior: a chain mediation effect of self-directed learning ability and exercise motivation.Frontiers in public health · 2026Trial
- Effects of a Four-Week Combined Respiratory Muscle Training and Breathing Exercise Program on Breath-Holding Time, Functional Performance, Sleep Quality, and Perceived Stress in Healthy University Students.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Enhancing resilience in pre-clinical health science students in Thailand: the impact of sports activity and social support.Preventive medicine reports · 2026Article
- Longitudinal effects of physical activity on university students' mental health via self-efficacy and the moderating role of peer support.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The impact of physical activity on the psychological wellbeing and study abroad satisfaction of Chinese international students in a cross-cultural context.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Physical literacy, sense of belonging in the sports environment, and college students' mental health: an analysis of relational paths based on differences in exercise groups.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- From digital learning readiness to student satisfaction: the mediating role of learning well-being in Saudi higher education.Frontiers in artificial intelligence · 2026Article
- Physical Activity, Emotional Intelligence, and Resilience in College Students: A Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling Analysis Across Physical Fitness Levels.Psychology research and behavior management · 2026Article
- Physical exercise and psychological resilience in the link between adverse childhood experiences and non-suicidal self-injury: chain mediation and network analysis in college students.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
- Modeled associations between university physical education mechanisms and students' mental health.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- "Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Ability exposure in physical education and university students' psychological well-being: evaluation anxiety as a mediator and PE belonging and disadvantaged status as contextual conditions.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The impact of sports participation on the social integration of China's migrant population: a serial mediation model of life satisfaction and subjective well-being.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Development and validation of a scale of healthy psychological effects of physical exercise among Chinese college students from a multidimensional mental health perspective.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Toward personalized persuasive social robots for behavior change in healthcare: a conceptual framework.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2026Article
- The impact mechanism of green exercise on college students' suicidal ideation: a mediation analysis based on entrance anxiety.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The influence of physical exercise on college students' prosocial behavior: the chain mediating role of social conscientiousness and general self-efficacy.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Article
- The relationship between physical exercise and mobile phone dependence in college students: the chain mediating of self-control and social adaptability.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- The Effect of Outdoor Activity Intention on Depressive Mood: The Mediating Role of Outdoor Activity Frequency.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
With increasing levels of stress among university students, it is essential to explore how institutional resources can support mental well-being. This study examines the impact of physical education (PE) classes on students’ mental health and investigates the mediating roles of physical activity and social adaptability. A survey was conducted among 525 university students. The study introduced two key variables—social adaptability and physical activity—and employed a structural model to assess the direct and indirect effects of PE on mental health. Findings indicate that participation in PE classes contributes positively to students’ mental well-being. Moreover, PE enhances mental health indirectly by promoting greater social adaptability and increased physical activity. A significant correlation was found between social adaptability and physical activity, illustrating a clear pathway linking these factors. Notably, a considerable proportion of students reported insufficient physical activity, highlighting the need for PE programs to further encourage active lifestyles. University PE classes play a valuable role in supporting students’ mental health, not only through direct psychological benefits but also by fostering social integration and encouraging physical activity. These findings underscore the dual importance of PE for both mental and physical well-being.
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