The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital
Abstract To explore the relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and psychological capital between the two. This study used a cross-sectional design, and questionnaires were distributed to 593 college students (29.7%...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02484-z |
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| author | Hongbo Zhao Qing You Lei Shi |
| author_facet | Hongbo Zhao Qing You Lei Shi |
| author_sort | Hongbo Zhao |
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| description | Abstract To explore the relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and psychological capital between the two. This study used a cross-sectional design, and questionnaires were distributed to 593 college students (29.7% male and 70.3% female) selected from selected colleges and universities in the Liaoning region of China through a simple random sampling method. The questionnaires included the Physical Activity Scale, the Sense of Security Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Psychological Capital Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 3.4 plug-ins and Bootstrap methods to test the chain-mediated effects of self-esteem and psychological capital. (1) there is a positive correlation between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, and the direct prediction of sense of security is significant; (2) physical activity can positively predict self-esteem, self-esteem can positively predict psychological capital and sense of security, and psychological capital can positively predict sense of security; (3) self-esteem and psychological capital play a significant mediating role between physical activity and sense of security, and the three mediating effect paths: physical activity → self-esteem → sense of security, physical activity → psychological capital → sense of security and physical activity → self-esteem → psychological capital → sense of security. (1) Physical activity can significantly and positively predict college students’ sense of security; (2) Self-esteem and psychological capital play mediating roles between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, respectively, and also play chain mediating roles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0eb521f84e0e41efaafc6bdd31b8afcf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-0eb521f84e0e41efaafc6bdd31b8afcf2025-08-20T02:30:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-02484-zThe relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capitalHongbo Zhao0Qing You1Lei Shi2Liaoning Normal UniversityLiaoning Normal UniversityShenyang Medical CollegeAbstract To explore the relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem and psychological capital between the two. This study used a cross-sectional design, and questionnaires were distributed to 593 college students (29.7% male and 70.3% female) selected from selected colleges and universities in the Liaoning region of China through a simple random sampling method. The questionnaires included the Physical Activity Scale, the Sense of Security Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Psychological Capital Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 3.4 plug-ins and Bootstrap methods to test the chain-mediated effects of self-esteem and psychological capital. (1) there is a positive correlation between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, and the direct prediction of sense of security is significant; (2) physical activity can positively predict self-esteem, self-esteem can positively predict psychological capital and sense of security, and psychological capital can positively predict sense of security; (3) self-esteem and psychological capital play a significant mediating role between physical activity and sense of security, and the three mediating effect paths: physical activity → self-esteem → sense of security, physical activity → psychological capital → sense of security and physical activity → self-esteem → psychological capital → sense of security. (1) Physical activity can significantly and positively predict college students’ sense of security; (2) Self-esteem and psychological capital play mediating roles between physical activity and college students’ sense of security, respectively, and also play chain mediating roles.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02484-zPhysical activityCollege students’ sense of securitySelf-esteem |
| spellingShingle | Hongbo Zhao Qing You Lei Shi The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital Scientific Reports Physical activity College students’ sense of security Self-esteem |
| title | The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital |
| title_full | The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital |
| title_short | The relationship between physical activity and college students’ sense of security: the chain-mediated role of self-esteem and psychological capital |
| title_sort | relationship between physical activity and college students sense of security the chain mediated role of self esteem and psychological capital |
| topic | Physical activity College students’ sense of security Self-esteem |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02484-z |
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