Qianyuan Li
Li Li1
Huilin Wang- 1School of Physical Education, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, China
- 2Moray House School of Education and Sport, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Introduction: Chinese adolescents are facing tremendous academic pressure and challenges brought about by changes in the social environment, which pose a serious threat to their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This cross-sectional survey uses convenience and snowball sampling to explore the relationship between adolescents’ HRQOL and their participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Methods: This study subjects include 440 adolescents aged 12 to 18, from four youth training centers and three schools in the central regions of Hunan, Hubei, and Henan provinces, chosen as representative samples for this study. We used AMOS v.26 to construct a structural equation model for data analysis and hypothesis testing.
Results: The results indicated that active participation in MVPA helps reduce adolescents’ perceived stress and enhances their emotional intelligence and HRQOL levels. Specifically, MVPA weakens adolescents’ perceived stress through the mediating role of emotional intelligence (coefficient = −0.148, p < 0.001), and perceived stress also mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and HRQOL (coefficient = 0.165, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the positive impact of MVPA on HRQOL is mediated by emotional intelligence and perceived stress (coefficient = 0.363, p < 0.001). The explanatory power of this study is R2 = 0.50.
Conclusion: The study results indicate that MVPA has a positive impact on the HRQOL levels of Chinese adolescents. Physical activity, especially moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise, should be considered a strategic approach to maintaining HRQOL among adolescents. Society, schools, and families should create an environment conducive to physical exercise to support adolescents in engaging in physical activities and developing a healthy lifestyle.
1 Introduction
Adolescence is a critical period between childhood and adulthood, regarded as an essential phase for addressing past health issues and laying the foundation for future health status (Boraita et al., 2020). Establishing some healthy lifestyle patterns in adulthood also benefits from the health opportunities encountered during this period (Sawyer et al., 2012). Moreover, the quality of life in adulthood is influenced by the continuation of lifestyle habits formed during adolescence (Bisegger et al., 2005; Frisén, 2007). However, this period is also a vulnerable time when adolescents are more prone to physical and mental health disorders. This heightened vulnerability is due to increased neural plasticity, more intense emotional responses, and greater sensitivity to external environmental changes, making them more susceptible to influences from society, family, and peers (Lee et al., 2014). At the same time, adolescents also undergo involuntary physical changes as their bodies mature, along with hormonal surges that lead to shifts in personality (Best and Ban, 2021). The variations in the timing of development and the comparison of physical appearance with peers can result in dissatisfaction with body image, social anxiety, and depression (Soares Filho et al., 2021; Rapee et al., 2022), which, in turn, affect their social skills, socialization process, and even mental health levels (Pfeifer and Allen, 2021). Consequently, the formation of bad habits such as smoking, alcohol abuse, and prolonged sedentary behavior often occurs during adolescence (Jackson et al., 2012), potentially impacting their future lifestyle choices and indirectly increasing the burden on public healthcare services (Moore et al., 2018).
Various data and studies indicate that complex social environmental factors, such as the rapid proliferation of social media platforms in the 21st century (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, and Weibo) (Lam and Peng, 2010), deteriorating family environments (including post-war single-parent families, domestic violence, and community violence incidents) (Panter-Brick et al., 2009), the impact of the global financial crisis (Parker et al., 2016), and the COVID-19 pandemic (Magson et al., 2020), have collectively had varying degrees of negative impact on adolescents’ HRQOL. Evidently, the massive cultural, economic, and social changes have posed unprecedented challenges to this generation of adolescents, potentially making them the most at-risk generation for mental health and HRQOL issues in history (Patton et al., 2016). HRQOL is essential for assessing adolescents’ quality of life (González-Cabrera et al., 2021), offering insights into their perceptions, understanding their needs, and identifying early barriers to well-being (Haraldstad et al., 2011). At the same time, adolescents with poor HRQOL are likely to face challenges entering a healthy developmental state, hindering their growth into healthy adults (Bermejo-Cantarero et al., 2021). However, in previous HRQOL studies, the focus on adolescents has been significantly lower than on adults, and our understanding of the internal mechanisms of the interaction between HRQOL and other variables is still limited.
Current research on adolescents’ HRQOL mainly examines factors such as adolescent bullying (Dubey et al., 2022), adverse and positive childhood experiences (Luo et al., 2024), the influence of parents, teachers, and peers (Tilga et al., 2021), and issues like obesity and severe overweight (van de Pas et al., 2023). Although some studies have noted that engaging in physical activities that inherently appeal to adolescents, particularly at higher levels of activity (Wu et al., 2017; Zhou et al., 2024), can not only improve physical fitness but also reduce appearance anxiety and improve HRQOL levels (Bermejo-Cantarero et al., 2021; Jiménez Boraita et al., 2024), there is currently a lack of research on how adolescents’ participation in MVPA affects their HRQOL. Our understanding of the internal mechanisms of how this behavioral level affects the cognitive level remains insufficient. Additionally, China has a vast population of adolescents (Qin et al., 2021) and a unique social culture and education system, which results in greater academic pressure and sharper HRQOL issues for Chinese adolescents (Zeng et al., 2022). Focusing on Chinese adolescents offers specific insights into issues within the Chinese social environment. This study uniquely explores the mechanisms linking MVPA and HRQOL, emphasizing the mediating roles of perceived stress and emotional intelligence. Perceived stress addresses the prevalent stress in Chinese adolescents, while emotional intelligence aids in better emotional regulation. In summary, building on previous HRQOL research, this study aims to: (1) analyze the relationships between MVPA, perceived stress, emotional intelligence, and HRQOL; (2) explore the mediating roles of cognitive factors (perceived stress and emotional intelligence) between MVPA and HRQOL; and (3) communicate the research findings to adolescents’ families, communities, and schools, and provide effective recommendations.
This study focuses on the HRQOL of adolescents, considering the impact of behavior on cognition, and explores the internal mechanisms between MVPA and HRQOL. Actively participating in MVPA, such as ball sports, track and field, gymnastics, water or ice sports, traditional Chinese sports, and emerging sports, as recommended in the new Chinese curriculum, gives adolescents more opportunities for social interaction and emotional development, thereby boosting their emotional intelligence (Gu, 2022). Increased emotional intelligence further improves adolescents’ abilities to regulate their emotions and cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotional issues, thereby improving their HRQOL. The results indicate that emotional intelligence positively mediates the relationship between MVPA and HRQOL, while perceived stress negatively mediates it. Adolescents engaging in MVPA tend to have higher emotional intelligence, lower perceived stress, and better HRQOL. Understanding this relationship deepens research on MVPA and HRQOL and offers theoretical guidance for protecting adolescents’ HRQOL, encouraging families, communities, and schools to promote MVPA.
2 Literature review and hypothesis development
2.1 Variable definitions
2.1.1 MVPA
Research consistently shows that physical activity is essential for a healthy lifestyle. It induces beneficial physiological changes, reduces the negative impact of stress on health, and supports mental well-being (Gerber et al., 2017). In fact, the impact of different exercise intensities on adolescents’ mental health varies (Pascoe et al., 2020). While international standards suggest that participating in 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week can reduce the risk of chronic diseases by nearly one-third later in life (Mahindru et al., 2023), for adolescents in their developmental stage, actively following the ‘24-h movement guidelines’ (i.e., achieving 3 h of physical activity per day, with at least one hour being MVPA) within their psychological and physical capacity can lead to more positive mental health benefits (Tremblay et al., 2016; Tapia-Serrano et al., 2022). MVPA specifically refers to physical activities that range from moderate to vigorous intensity levels (Nader et al., 2008). Existing literature has reached a consensus that regular participation in physical activities, especially MVPA during adolescence, is particularly effective in enhancing cardiovascular health (Knaeps et al., 2016), improving type 2 diabetes (Blomster et al., 2013), and addressing psychological health issues such as low self-esteem and depression (Hollis et al., 2017). Additionally, engaging in MVPA during the developmental stage of adolescence can improve suboptimal health conditions and effectively lay the foundation for preventing chronic diseases in adulthood (e.g., heart disease) (Skrede et al., 2017). Due to the more pronounced neurological changes induced by MVPA, its positive effects on adolescents’ cognitive abilities and mental health are also significant (Nakagawa et al., 2020). This study explores the concept of MVPA based on the new curriculum activities in the daily lives of Chinese adolescents (Gu, 2022).
2.1.2 Emotional intelligence
Salovey and Mayer (1990) first introduced the concept of emotional intelligence, defining it as a subset of social intelligence. It involves recognizing and managing one’s own and others’ emotions to guide thinking and behavior. Over the past few decades, the discussion on emotional intelligence has been ongoing, with the definition of emotional intelligence becoming a research hotspot. Current research on emotional intelligence mainly falls into three categories: (1) Ability-based models define emotional intelligence as a skill for integrating and processing personal emotions and external information (Estrada et al., 2021). (2) Competency models, where Nelis et al. (2009) view emotional intelligence as a collection of various abilities, including self-control, emotional regulation, and self-regulation. (3) Trait and mixed models view emotional intelligence as a stable set of personality traits, encompassing social–emotional abilities, self-efficacy, and cognitive aspects (Petrides et al., 2016). This study follows Law et al. (2004) definition, which describes emotional intelligence as the ability to understand, enhance, and manage one’s emotions while integrating and processing the emotions of others. Since adolescents experience greater uncertainty and competition during physical activity and must adapt to the intense emotional fluctuations it brings, this can effectively enhance their self-emotional management abilities (Wang et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2022). Additionally, adolescents in a sporting environment are exposed to a sense of teamwork and social support, and they actively or passively gain more opportunities for interpersonal communication, which helps improve their ability to perceive and regulate others’ emotions (Wang et al., 2022).
2.1.3 Perceived stress
Stress has been a key focus in academic research and is vital in health sciences. It is viewed as a stimulus, a response, or an interaction between the individual and their environment (Schiffrin and Nelson, 2010; Siqueira Reis et al., 2010). Stress is associated with various physical and mental health diseases, including well-being, cancer, and coronary heart disease (Schiffrin and Nelson, 2010; Richardson et al., 2012). Perceived stress refers to the subjective level of stress an individual feels. Different individuals have varying perceptions of stress, making perceived stress a highly subjective concept related to current emotions and environmental factors (Piqueras et al., 2011; Ruiz-Aranda et al., 2014). Adolescents’ perceived stress is particularly unstable due to the fluctuating hormone levels during puberty, leading to significant emotional swings (Salovey et al., 2002). Additionally, perceived stress during adolescence increases with age and is influenced by factors such as gender, interpersonal relationships, and personality traits (Hampel and Petermann, 2006). The accumulation of stress, coupled with the immature state of adolescents, can easily lead to adverse reactions such as obesity and mental illnesses (van Jaarsveld et al., 2009). However, previous research has found that participating in physical activities can enhance adolescents’ tolerance and adaptability to distress, thereby helping them alleviate perceived stress levels in stressful environments (Wright et al., 2023). Additionally, through physical activities, adolescents can develop a positive sense of self-awareness and control, which helps divert their attention and negative thoughts about known stressors, thus reducing the amount of stress they perceive (Mikkelsen et al., 2017; Wright et al., 2021). Even short-term, moderate to low-intensity aerobic exercise can effectively lower overall perceived stress levels (Herbert et al., 2020).
2.1.4 HQROL
Quality of life is a broad and widely discussed concept encompassing all aspects of an individual’s life (Ware, 2003). HRQOL specifically refers to the aspects of quality of life that affect an individual’s health (Torrance, 1987). HRQOL was first applied in the medical field to measure the outcomes of traditional clinical treatments, where besides mortality and morbidity, HRQOL was used as an endpoint to evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of a patient’s life (Crosby et al., 2003). HRQOL is defined as an individual’s subjective assessment of their physical health, psychological well-being, and the health of their social relationships (Gomes et al., 2020).
In fact, physical activities conducive to health, even in non-specific domains such as commuting and household chores, positively contribute to HRQOL across all age groups (Jurakić et al., 2010), with subjective self-assessments and objective accelerometer measurements both showing strong outcomes (Wright et al., 2023). Conversely, patients experiencing physical limitations due to injuries or chronic illness often see significant declines in HRQOL (Pinquart, 2020). Mental health issues also seriously impact HRQOL levels, with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and stress typically scoring lower on HRQOL (Manh Than et al., 2020). Furthermore, studies on healthy aging have found that older adults with low communication frequency and limited social interaction factors—such as social isolation, lack of social support, and feelings of loneliness—also experience diminished HRQOL (de Belvis et al., 2008; Freak-Poli et al., 2022). In this study, HRQOL refers to the overall evaluation of adolescents’ health in terms of physical, psychological, and social interactions.
2.2 Hypotheses
2.2.1 MVPA, emotional intelligence, perceived stress, and HRQOL
Research increasingly shows that adolescents develop emotional perception and control mechanisms during physical activity and sports training (Acebes-Sánchez et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2020). On one hand, the real social experiences from peer cooperation or intense competition in vigorous physical activities can enhance adolescents’ empathy and ability to understand and respond to others’ emotions (Ubago-Jiménez et al., 2019). On the other hand, engaging in MVPA in moderation not only brings various physiological benefits to adolescents but also enhances their ability to acquire social–emotional skills and self-regulation abilities in the cognitive domain (Ubago-Jiménez et al., 2021). Additionally, studies have found that contemporary adolescents are adept at alleviating personal emotional distress through resources they can actively access (e.g., joining sports teams) (Martorell-Poveda et al., 2015), and their levels of emotional intelligence (especially in emotional attention and repair) increase with the intensity and frequency of their physical activity participation (Acebes-Sánchez et al., 2019).
In fact, individual resilience in adolescents is a crucial force that regulates their adaptive changes when facing negative environments and stressful situations (Piekarska, 2020). Liu et al. (2017) multisystem resilience model identifies emotional intelligence as a core component, essential to adolescents’ overall resilience. Furthermore, adolescents are constrained by their limited life experience, which often makes it difficult for them to cope with changes in various life events, frequently viewing significant life changes as sources of perceived stress (Cejudo et al., 2018). However, a meta-analysis by Sánchez-Álvarez et al. (2016) found that effective emotional strategies can mitigate the negative emotions arising from sudden external events, enhancing individuals’ positive expectations for future events and their current subjective well-being. Additionally, the emotional intelligence improved through physical exercise can, in conjunction with physical exercise, help adolescents alleviate their feelings of frustration under stress and assist them in making reasonable behavioral decisions in various challenging situations (Puertas Molero et al., 2017).
Early research indicates that perceived stress severely damages adolescents’ internal psychological resources and is a major factor leading to mental health disorders (Corell et al., 2021). If adolescents cannot positively confront the burdens and unpredictable circumstances in life, these will accumulate and transform into a stress-filled living environment (Grant et al., 2004). When adolescents are in high-perceived stress environments, they are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and other negative psychological states, thereby lowering their HRQOL levels (Racic et al., 2017). Moreover, excessive accumulation of perceived stress can lead to mental disorders in adolescents, and these adverse mental states can persist into adulthood and beyond, severely damaging their HRQOL throughout their lifespan (Lindholdt et al., 2021). In a study by Kaur and Agarwal (2022) focusing on young adults with an average age of around 20, high perceived stress was found to be significantly and consistently negatively correlated with physical fitness and HRQOL, with perceived stress explaining nearly 40% of the overall differences in HRQOL. Based on the relevant theories and research, we propose the following hypotheses:
H1: Emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between MVPA and perceived stress.
H2: Perceived stress mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and HRQOL.
2.2.2 The mediating effects
Adolescents experience rapid and highly sensitive physiological and psychological development. Increasing academic pressure and social anxiety can impact their mental health (Reverte-Villarroya et al., 2021). Psychological disorders often begin in adolescence, particularly with the onset of depression caused by stress and anxiety, typically occurring before the age of 20. This condition not only damages the HRQOL of young people but also hinders their future prospects by impeding their entry into the workforce (Dhillon et al., 2020). Fortunately, numerous studies have shown that physical exercise, especially MVPA, can enhance adolescents’ vitality, improve their cognitive abilities, reduce perceived stress, and increase their social opportunities and skills with friends, thereby enhancing their emotional intelligence (Hollis et al., 2017; Ubago-Jiménez et al., 2019; Nakagawa et al., 2020; Nagata et al., 2022). MVPA stimulates physiological responses like brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dopamine, and endorphins, aiding in rapid adaptation to these physiological mechanisms (Chang et al., 2012; Skrede et al., 2017). Additionally, MVPA can improve mood, maintain or enhance physical appearance, and validate personal fitness, all of which positively affect adolescents’ psychological cognition and mental state (Parker et al., 2022).
Current research on the mediating effects of adolescents’ emotional intelligence and perceived stress mainly addresses well-being (Sanchez-Ruiz et al., 2021), self-assessed health status (Wang et al., 2023), decreased immune function (Lueke and Assar, 2024), and mental health (Malinauskas and Malinauskiene, 2020). Furthermore, some studies have found an inhibitory relationship between adolescents’ MVPA and perceived stress and various psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression (Tajik et al., 2017). In fact, perceived stress is likely one of the most crucial factors reducing adolescents’ HRQOL (Mikkelsen et al., 2020). However, MVPA can enhance self-awareness, improve adolescents’ perceptions of self-worth, and increase self-esteem, thereby reducing perceived stress and fostering mental health (Hale et al., 2021). Additionally, evidence suggests that positive emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in children’s self-regulation of health-related behaviors and can impact the HRQOL of those with body image dissatisfaction (Pollatos et al., 2020). Based on the relevant theories and research, we propose the following hypothesis:
H3: Emotional intelligence and perceived stress mediate the relationship between MVPA and HRQOL.
This study proposes three hypotheses: First, adolescents’ emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between MVPA and perceived stress. Second, adolescents’ perceived stress mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and HRQOL. Lastly, emotional intelligence and perceived stress play a mediating role in the relationship between adolescents’ MVPA and HRQOL. An overview of all hypotheses is illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1. The conceptual model.
3 Methodology
3.1 Participants and procedure
This study used convenience sampling and snowball sampling techniques to recruit adolescents aged 12–18 for an online survey. To collect data, we contacted administrators of four after-school sports service training centers and three schools in the central regions of China (Hunan, Hubei, and Henan provinces). Based on the adolescent population in these three provinces and the sample size formula n = N/(N(δ)^2 + 1), the sample size for this study was calculated to be approximately 400 participants. Upon obtaining consent, we sent messages to the target group through social media platforms such as WeChat. These messages explained the purpose of the study and included an invitation to participate. If they replied with “1,” indicating their willingness to participate, we sent them a link to the survey tool (Wenjuanxing app). To express our gratitude, participants received a random reward ranging from 10 to 20 RMB upon completing the questionnaire. Additionally, we encouraged participants to share the survey link with their classmates, friends, or peers at after-school sports service training centers.
Participants recruited through the snowball method completed the questionnaire, and their responses were automatically sent back to the researchers via the Wenjuanxing app. Inclusion criteria required participants to be aged 12–18 with some sports experience (having at least one favorite sport and participating in sports at least once per week on average). The study had 482 participants. After excluding invalid questionnaires, 440 usable responses were obtained, resulting in an effective response rate of 91.2%.
Table 1 details the demographics of the 440 adolescent participants. Key findings include: (1) About 58% were aged 12 to 15 years. (2) The gender ratio was about 3:2, with more males than females. (3) A significant number of participants were involved in sports such as basketball, track and field, and badminton, accounting for about 50% of the total. (4) About 46% of the participants engaged in sports activities four to five times per week on average over the past year, aligning with the frequency of physical education classes and after-school sports services provided on school days in China.
Table 1. Demographic overview of survey participants (N = 440).
3.2 Instruments
The questionnaire had five sections. The first section collected demographic information such as age, gender, types of sports activities, and weekly participation frequency over the past year. The remaining sections used established scales from renowned researchers to gather specific data in targeted areas. The second section integrated three items from the scale designed by Sallis et al. (1985) to measure the intensity of MVPA in the past week. An example item was: “In the past week, I actively engaged in various forms of high-intensity physical activities, including tasks such as lifting heavy objects and sports like jogging, soccer, and similar activities.” This scale had been previously used and validated (Tseng et al., 2020; Tsai et al., 2021). The third section used five items from the scale designed by Law et al. (2004) to assess participants’ emotional intelligence. An illustrative item was: “I am good at understanding my own emotions.” This scale had also been previously used and validated (Wang et al., 2023). The fourth section incorporated five items from the scale developed by Cohen et al. (1983) to evaluate participants’ perceived stress. An example item was: “In the past month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?” This scale had been used and validated before (Tang et al., 2023). The final section adopted four items from the scale developed by Ravens-Sieberer et al. (2010) to obtain data on the HRQOL levels of the participating adolescents. An example item was: “Do you feel healthy?” This scale had been previously used and validated (Nik-Azin et al., 2014).
To assess the reliability of the revised questionnaire, we conducted a pilot test in Hunan Province, obtaining 96 valid responses. The results showed that all Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeded 0.8, confirming the researchers’ adjustments to the scales (la Du and Tanaka, 1989).
3.3 Data analysis
In this study, we used AMOS v.26 to create a structural equation model (SEM) to examine how adolescents improve their HRQOL through MVPA. We adopted a two-step modeling approach, starting with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the measurement model to ensure the reliability and validity of the variables, including tests for internal consistency, construct validity, and discriminant validity. Following this, we evaluated the structural model’s fit indices and path coefficients to explore the relationships between variables and assess potential mediation effects. A significance level of p < 0.05 was established for all analyses to ensure statistical robustness and scientific validity of the findings.
To address common method variance (CMV) in self-reported data, we followed Mossholder et al. (1998) approach, comparing two models by assessing changes in degrees of freedom and chi-square values. The chi-square value for model one was 2360.902 with 119 degrees of freedom (p < 0.001), while model two had a chi-square value of 212.428 with 113 degrees of freedom (p < 0.001). These results confirm the equivalence of the two models, indicating no univariate structure and no CMV concerns in this study.
4 Results
4.1 Measurement model
The reliability and validity of the latent variables were evaluated through CFA using AMOS v.26. The CFA model demonstrated excellent fit indices: χ2/df = 1.880, GFI = 0.956, NFI = 0.964, TLI = 0.979, CFI = 0.983, and RMSEA = 0.041. These indices meet the established criteria, with χ2/df between 1 and 3, and GFI, NFI, TLI, and CFI all exceeding 0.9, while RMSEA is less than 0.08, indicating an excellent model fit.
Additionally, all variables showed Cronbach’s α values above 0.8, indicating strong internal consistency (see Table 2) (Fornell and Larcker, 1981). The average variance extracted (AVE) for each variable exceeded 0.5, and the composite reliability (CR) for each latent variable was over 0.8, confirming the model’s convergent validity. Factor loadings ranged from 0.680 to 0.878, underscoring robust construct validity. Discriminant validity was established as the square root of the AVE for each construct surpassed the correlations between constructs (see Table 3).
Table 2. Reliability and validity analysis.
Table 3. Pearson correlation.
4.2 Structural model
After assessing the reliability and validity of the measurement model, the study examined the structural model using AMOS v.26 to test the hypotheses. The CFA results, based on 5,000 bootstrap samples, met the recommended criteria (χ2/df = 2.354, GFI = 0.944, NFI = 0.955, TLI = 0.968, CFI = 0.973, RMSEA = 0.050), indicating an excellent fit between the model and the empirical data. Pearson correlation results in Table 3 support the established relationships between variables.
As shown in Figure 2, MVPA had a significant positive direct association with emotional intelligence (β = 0.397, p < 0.001) and a significant negative direct relationship with perceived stress (β = −0.337, p < 0.001). Emotional intelligence was significantly negatively related to perceived stress (β = −0.373, p < 0.001) and positively related to HRQOL (β = 0.373, p < 0.001). Additionally, perceived stress had a significant negative direct correlation with HRQOL (β = −0.444, p < 0.001).
Figure 2. Path model: relationships among variables. ***p < 0.001.
As shown in Table 4, the mediating effects were examined using bootstrap estimation with 5,000 resamples and 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals. The results indicate that emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between MVPA and perceived stress [coefficient = −0.148, SE = 0.028, CI = (−0.210, −0.100), p < 0.001], supporting Hypothesis 1. Perceived stress mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and HRQOL [coefficient = 0.165, SE = 0.034, CI = (0.110, 0.244), p < 0.001], supporting Hypothesis 2. The pathway through which MVPA affects HRQOL, mediated by emotional intelligence and perceived stress, has a coefficient of 0.363 [SE = 0.038, CI = (0.282, 0.431), p < 0.001], supporting Hypothesis 3.
Table 4. Standardized indirect effect.
5 Discussion
5.1 Theoretical contributions
Firstly, existing research primarily explores the impact of different intensities of physical activity on adolescents’ physical health and the role of MVPA in intervening in mild mental disorders (Arslan et al., 2022). Although previous studies have confirmed the positive impact of children and adolescents participating in physical activity on their HRQOL levels, there is still a lack of empirical research on how the intensity of physical activity affects adolescents’ HRQOL (Marker et al., 2018). Our study shifts the focus to examining how MVPA affects adolescents’ HRQOL at the cognitive level. This detailed perspective adds depth to the existing theoretical research in this field. Moreover, since previous studies indicate that the current generation of adolescents shows lower HRQOL levels compared to the previous generation, our study places greater emphasis on HRQOL levels during adolescence (Patton et al., 2016).
At the same time, even during major stress events like the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining a high level of physical activity can help adolescents alleviate symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, and depression, thereby preserving their psychological and mental health (Chi et al., 2021). Our study found that MVPA has a significant inhibitory effect on perceived stress, a psychological issue. In fact, moderate-to-vigorous physical activities, such as various forms of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), can positively influence adolescents’ cognitive performance (attention, executive function, abstract reasoning, etc.) and mental health levels (Alves et al., 2021). Given that subjective cognitive mental health is a key subset for measuring HRQOL, researchers believe that understanding the cognitive impact of MVPA on HRQOL can help identify methods to adjust contemporary adolescents’ HRQOL levels.
Additionally, our study finds that the HRQOL level of Chinese adolescents is concerning, further validating previous research (Qin et al., 2021). This can be attributed to the numerous challenges Chinese adolescents face in academic progress and social interactions (Zeng et al., 2022), which have been exacerbated by the prolonged social isolation resulting from the recent COVID-19 pandemic (Magson et al., 2020). These factors further jeopardize the already fragile HRQOL levels of adolescents. Furthermore, the study points out that overweight and obesity issues are prevalent among today’s adolescents. MVPA can stimulate various physiological changes, enhance personal functions, and reduce perceived stress related to body image issues, such as obesity and overweight, thereby improving mental, physical health, and HRQOL levels.
The study also emphasizes that emotional intelligence is a valuable psychological resource that plays a positive role in resisting negative psychological states (Acebes-Sánchez et al., 2019). Consistent with previous studies, our research indicates that MVPA can influence adolescents’ HRQOL levels together with emotional intelligence (Ubago-Jiménez et al., 2021). However, this study further highlights that MVPA can positively impact adolescents’ HRQOL by inhibiting perceived stress. Additionally, our research innovatively explores the mediating roles of emotional intelligence and perceived stress in the relationship between MVPA and HRQOL. The results show that emotional intelligence serves as a notable positive mediator, while perceived stress acts as a negative mediator (see Figure 2). This supports the findings of Racic et al. (2017). These variables collectively explain 50% of the variance in HRQOL, with emotional intelligence having a greater inhibitory effect on perceived stress compared to MVPA.
Our study introduces an effective approach to investigating the link between MVPA and HRQOL, exploring the cognitive impacts of adolescents’ participation in MVPA in daily life. It demonstrates the synergistic inhibitory effects of MVPA and emotional intelligence on perceived stress, thereby expanding the scope of research on cognitive-level interventions.
5.2 Practical implications
We selected Hunan, Hubei, and Henan provinces, which form the central region of China, as the sources of the survey sample. These provinces are located in the inland central area of China, characterized by relatively balanced economic development, a large population, and a high level of education among adolescents. The investigation of samples from these three provinces provides a meaningful reference for studying the relationship between adolescents’ MVPA and HRQOL in other provinces of China. However, considering China’s unique social and cultural context, education system, and large population, which results in greater academic pressure and more acute HRQOL issues among adolescents (Qin et al., 2021; Zeng et al., 2022), the findings of our study also have a certain level of uniqueness.
This study suggests that MVPA positively affects adolescents’ emotional intelligence and negatively impacts perceived stress, highlighting the indirect relationship between MVPA and HRQOL levels in adolescents. To support adolescents’ engagement in MVPA, families, schools, and communities should provide both material and emotional support. Recognizing that promoting MVPA among adolescents is not a short-term task but a long-term commitment, this study provides practical guidance from short-, medium-, and long-term perspectives.
In the short term, parents should focus on their children’s extracurricular activities, actively participating in outdoor physical activities with them or encouraging them to join sports clubs during their free time. Limiting screen time while ensuring adequate sleep can promote more MVPA, thus improving adolescents’ HRQOL (Parker et al., 2022). Schools and communities should enhance both the quantity and quality of sports facilities and implement effective management mechanisms to ensure that students can easily participate in various sports activities.
In the medium term, schools should actively respond to China’s after-school physical education policies and adjust physical education classes based on students’ interests. This includes adapting curriculum content and teaching methods and encouraging physical education teachers to innovate to make classes more engaging. Additionally, schools should foster a culture of physical exercise throughout the institution by organizing various sports-related activities and mobilizing resources from parents, communities, and other stakeholders to create a supportive environment for students to engage in physical activities.
From a long-term perspective, schools should establish and improve sports management mechanisms to lay the foundation for lifelong physical activity among students. This includes developing clear plans and policies for the development of school sports, hiring professional physical education teachers and administrators, and ensuring the sustainability of sports programs. As a bridge between schools and families, communities should actively facilitate coordination between the two, forming a tripartite structure that involves families, schools, and communities working together. At the same time, we must build on the short- and medium-term efforts of families, schools, and communities to create a long-term positive cycle that encourages adolescents to continue participating in MVPA.
In today’s rapidly changing society, adolescents’ HRQOL faces various threats, including challenges brought by the evolving social environment (Panter-Brick et al., 2009; Lam and Peng, 2010; Parker et al., 2016). Additionally, the increasing academic burden continuously adds to adolescents’ perceived stress (Reverte-Villarroya et al., 2021; Zeng et al., 2022). According to the results of this study, adolescents enhance their emotional intelligence through MVPA, successfully alleviating perceived stress, and establishing a positive correlation with their HRQOL. This is because MVPA fosters adolescents’ self-identity through competitive sports activities and provides opportunities for collaboration with teammates, which helps counteract the social isolation caused by prolonged social distancing during the pandemic, thereby enhancing their emotional intelligence (Ubago-Jiménez et al., 2019). Simultaneously, adolescents release accumulated perceived stress from academics, family, and social relationships through MVPA. In this process, they temporarily disengage from the complexities of academic, family, and social relationships, immerse themselves in sports activities, and achieve short-term but effective relaxation, ultimately contributing to improved HRQOL levels. Additionally, adolescents themselves should actively embrace the triangle of physical activities built by the short-term efforts and long-term cycles of families, schools, and society. They should take advantage of available sports facilities, participate in physical activities, enjoy the sports environment, and achieve the goal of enhancing their MVPA.
However, despite the numerous documented benefits of MVPA in enhancing HRQOL, the actual participation rate, frequency, and intensity of MVPA among adolescents remain suboptimal. This is mainly due to the lack of awareness among society, schools, and parents about the importance of MVPA for adolescents’ HRQOL, coupled with an excessive focus on academic performance that forces Chinese adolescents to devote significant time and energy to studying (Liang et al., 2023). Moreover, the increasing use of smart mobile devices among adolescents in recent years has led some to escape reality through the internet when facing high perceived stress in real life, further encroaching on time that could be spent on physical activities.
Adjusting adolescents’ HRQOL levels is a long-term and continuous process. This study not only elucidates the intrinsic mechanisms between MVPA and HRQOL during adolescence but also encourages more adolescents to participate in MVPA to gain opportunities for peer competition and cooperation. Additionally, the study encourages adolescents to develop one or more sports hobbies and engage in them consistently, thereby resisting academic pressure and the temptations of electronic devices, ultimately promoting positive HRQOL levels.
5.3 Limitations
Firstly, our study selected data sources from three provinces in the central region of China. While this approach reduced the complexity of data collection and provided convenience, it must be acknowledged that this choice might slightly impact the representativeness of the sample. To address this limitation, future research in this field could consider expanding the sample sources. By including data from more diverse regions, researchers can enhance the geographic coverage and improve the representativeness of the sample, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Secondly, our study primarily focused on investigating two cognitive mediators in the relationship between MVPA and HRQOL. Although this approach provided valuable insights, there remains room for future researchers to delve deeper into this relationship. Exploring additional mediating variables could elucidate the complex interactions between MVPA and HRQOL more thoroughly.
Thirdly, due to the limitations of our actual research capabilities, this study relies on adolescents’ self-reported measurements of MVPA. Self-reports may involve recall bias and inaccuracies. Future research should consider using wearable activity monitors to obtain more objective and accurate data on exercise intensity. This will improve the reliability of the data and provide a more precise understanding of adolescents’ MVPA levels.
Lastly, our study employed a cross-sectional method, lacking a temporal dimension. To further advance research in this area, future studies could adopt longitudinal research methods. This approach would offer valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between MVPA and HRQOL over time, helping researchers capture trends and changes.
By addressing these limitations and exploring new research avenues, future studies can build on our findings to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how MVPA influences adolescents’ HRQOL.
6 Conclusion
To achieve the research objectives, this study validated the positive role of MVPA in regulating HRQOL among adolescents. Notably, emotional intelligence and perceived stress emerged as mediating factors in the impact of MVPA on psychological health. Additionally, MVPA and emotional intelligence jointly inhibited the development of perceived stress. The enhancement of emotional intelligence through MVPA proved more effective in reducing perceived stress, thereby promoting overall HRQOL among adolescents. Therefore, this study recommends moving away from the prevalent exam-oriented culture and encourages increased attention to adolescents’ HRQOL issues.
To create an environment in Chinese society that supports adolescents’ participation in MVPA and improves their MVPA levels, families, schools, and communities must form a triangular network of physical activity support from short-term efforts, to mid-term maintenance, and long-term cycling. This includes providing adolescents with emotional support from their families, material resources from the community, and institutional support from schools. For example, parents can spend more time engaging in physical activities with their children, communities can update and maintain facilities and equipment for youth sports activities, and schools can actively implement the national after-school physical education service policies.
Data availability statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.
Ethics statement
The studies involving humans were approved by the Academic Committee of the School of Physical Education of Hunan University of Science and Technology. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardians/next of kin.
Author contributions
QL: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. LL: Funding acquisition, Investigation, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. CL: Resources, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. HW: Conceptualization, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Social Science Foundation (Grant No. 20BTY019).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Keywords: adolescents, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, emotional intelligence, perceived stress, health-related quality of life
Citation: Li Q, Li L, Li C and Wang H (2024) The association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and health-related quality of life in Chinese adolescents: the mediating roles of emotional intelligence and perceived stress. Front. Psychol. 15:1477018. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1477018
Edited by:
José Eduardo Teixeira, Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, PortugalReviewed by:
Pedro Forte, Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the Douro, PortugalSandra Silva-Santos, Instituto de Estudos Superiores de Fafe LDA, Portugal
Ana Ruivo Alves, University of Beira Interior, Portugal
Copyright © 2024 Li, Li, Li and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Huilin Wang, SHVpbGluLldhbmdAZWQuYWMudWs=