AUTHOR=Zhao Guoguo , Sun Kaihong , Fu Jian , Li Zhe , Liu Dongbin , Tian Xin , Yang Jiehui , Zhang Qiushi 

TITLE=Impact of physical activity on executive functions: a moderated mediation model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1226667

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1226667

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Objective</title><p>To provide both empirical support and a theoretical framework for systematically improving and optimizing the cognitive capabilities of college students through physical activity, while considering the mediating and regulating impacts of self-efficacy and negative emotion.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>The study employed an overall random sampling method, examining 500 college students from five universities in Jiangsu Province using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Adult Executive Function Scale (ADEXI), Positive and Negative Emotion Scale (PANAS), and General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES).</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>The findings indicated that the average age of the participants was 18.41 ± 0.73 years, encompassing 215 male students (43%), and 185 female students (57%). Engagement in physical activity was significantly and positively correlated with executive function (<italic>β</italic> = 0.246, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), inversely associated with negative emotion (<italic>β</italic> = −0.137, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), and demonstrated a significant positive predictive impact on self-efficacy (<italic>β</italic> = 0.183, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Self-efficacy was observed to partially mediate the relationship between executive function and physical activity. In addition, negative mood was identified as playing a partial mediating and modifying role in the relationship between executive function and physical activity.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Increasing college students’ daily physical activity participation not only benefits their executive function, self-efficacy, and confidence levels but also exerts a limited positive impact on negative mood, with the potential to regulate the intensity of negative emotion.</p></sec>