The relationship between family physical activity environment and mental health in high school students: the chain mediating role of parent-child relationship and exercise behavior.

Introduction: Adolescence is a high-incidence period for mental health problems. Evidence suggests that the family physical activity (PA) environment may shape adolescents' psychological well-being, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined whether the parent-child relationship and adolescents' own exercise behaviour serially mediate the association between the family PA environment and mental health among Chinese seniorhigh-school students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2,049 senior-high-school students (mean age = 15.7 ± 1.2 years; 52 % girls) recruited from six provinces in China. Validated instruments were used to assess the family PA environment (Family Physical Activity Environment Questionnaire), mental health problems (Mental Health Diagnostic Test), parent-child relationship quality (Parent-Child Relationship Scale), and exercise behaviour (Physical Activity Rating Scale). Structural equation modelling was employed to test direct and indirect effects, with sex, age, and socioeconomic status as covariates. Results: The family PA environment was significantly and positively associated with mental health (β = 0.31, Discussion: Findings underscore the family PA environment as a critical determinant of adolescents' mental health. Intervention programmes that simultaneously strengthen family-based physical activity and parent-child relationship quality may confer synergistic benefits for adolescent psychological well-being.