AUTHOR=Yao Shu-Jun , Ma Qi-Shuai , Liu Chao , Cao Da-Wei , Lyu Teng , Guo Ke-Lei 

TITLE=The relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being among Chinese junior high school students: A chain mediating model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1053252

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1053252

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>This study aims to help understand the mechanism behind the relationship between physical exercise and the subjective well-being among Chinese junior high school students, and it is of great significance for the intervention measures to improve the subjective well-being of junior high school students.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Using stratified cluster sampling method, 1,510 junior high school students (727 males and 783 females) were measured by physical exercise rating scale, perceived social support scale, physical exercise self-efficacy scale, and subjective well-being scale. For data analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, structural equation model test, and bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method were carried out in turn.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Common method biases can be accepted in this study. (1) There is a positive correlation between physical exercise and subjective well-being, and physical exercise has a significant predictive effect on subjective well-being(<italic>β</italic> = 0.367 <italic>t</italic> = 9.415 <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01); (2) Perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being (<italic>β</italic> = 0.08, <italic>t</italic> = 3.083, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), and its effect ratio is 78.047%; (3) Physical exercise self-efficacy plays a partial mediating role between physical exercise and subjective well-being(<italic>β</italic> = 0.181, <italic>t</italic> = 5.132, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), accounting for 50.632%; (4) The chain mediating effect of perceived social support and physical exercise self-efficacy was significant (the mediating effect value was 0.028), and the effect amount was 7.629%.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>(1) Physical exercise can significantly positively predict the subjective well-being of junior high school students; (2) Physical exercise can also indirectly affect the subjective well-being of junior high school students through the mediating effect of perceived social support and physical exercise self-efficacy. The intermediary effect includes three paths, namely, the individual intermediary effect of perceived social support and physical exercise self-efficacy and the chain intermediary effect of perceived social support physical exercise self-efficacy.</p></sec>