The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students
Abstract The satisfaction with life among college students is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various factors. This research investigates the influence of physical activity on the life satisfaction of college students, with a particular focus on the mediating effects of emotional regulation...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00651-w |
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| author | Yuyang Nie Tianci Wang Mingming Guo Fangbing Zhou Wenxue Ma Wentao Qiu Jinchao Gao Cong Liu |
| author_facet | Yuyang Nie Tianci Wang Mingming Guo Fangbing Zhou Wenxue Ma Wentao Qiu Jinchao Gao Cong Liu |
| author_sort | Yuyang Nie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The satisfaction with life among college students is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various factors. This research investigates the influence of physical activity on the life satisfaction of college students, with a particular focus on the mediating effects of emotional regulation and physical self-esteem. Utilizing a cross-sectional approach, the study surveyed 614 freshman students at a vocational college in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The assessment tools included the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Physical Self-Esteem Scale (PSPP), and the Adolescent Emotional Regulation Ability Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27, encompassing descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, independent sample t-tests, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis, while controlling for gender and ethnicity. The findings revealed significant gender disparities in physical activity levels, physical self-esteem, and life satisfaction among the college student population. The mediation analysis showed that although the direct effect of physical activity on life satisfaction was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), its indirect effects through emotional regulation (β = 0.0269, P < 0.001) and physical self-esteem (β = 0.0837, P < 0.001) were highly significant. Moreover, physical activity positively predicted life satisfaction through the combined mediating pathway of emotional regulation and physical self-esteem (β = 0.0049, P < 0.001). Therefore, the study concludes that while the direct impact of physical activity on college students’ life satisfaction might be subtle, its positive effects are primarily channeled through the mediation of emotional regulation and physical self-esteem, offering valuable insights for institutions to enhance the overall well-being of their students. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33f1a3798f6f4e419cff477d64f0b5e9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-33f1a3798f6f4e419cff477d64f0b5e92025-08-20T02:15:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-00651-wThe relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college studentsYuyang Nie0Tianci Wang1Mingming Guo2Fangbing Zhou3Wenxue Ma4Wentao Qiu5Jinchao Gao6Cong Liu7College of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract The satisfaction with life among college students is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various factors. This research investigates the influence of physical activity on the life satisfaction of college students, with a particular focus on the mediating effects of emotional regulation and physical self-esteem. Utilizing a cross-sectional approach, the study surveyed 614 freshman students at a vocational college in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The assessment tools included the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Physical Self-Esteem Scale (PSPP), and the Adolescent Emotional Regulation Ability Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27, encompassing descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, independent sample t-tests, correlation analysis, and mediation analysis, while controlling for gender and ethnicity. The findings revealed significant gender disparities in physical activity levels, physical self-esteem, and life satisfaction among the college student population. The mediation analysis showed that although the direct effect of physical activity on life satisfaction was not statistically significant (P > 0.05), its indirect effects through emotional regulation (β = 0.0269, P < 0.001) and physical self-esteem (β = 0.0837, P < 0.001) were highly significant. Moreover, physical activity positively predicted life satisfaction through the combined mediating pathway of emotional regulation and physical self-esteem (β = 0.0049, P < 0.001). Therefore, the study concludes that while the direct impact of physical activity on college students’ life satisfaction might be subtle, its positive effects are primarily channeled through the mediation of emotional regulation and physical self-esteem, offering valuable insights for institutions to enhance the overall well-being of their students.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00651-wPhysical activityEmotional regulationPhysical self-esteemLife satisfactionCorrelation |
| spellingShingle | Yuyang Nie Tianci Wang Mingming Guo Fangbing Zhou Wenxue Ma Wentao Qiu Jinchao Gao Cong Liu The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students Scientific Reports Physical activity Emotional regulation Physical self-esteem Life satisfaction Correlation |
| title | The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students |
| title_full | The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students |
| title_short | The relationship between physical activity, life satisfaction, emotional regulation, and physical self esteem among college students |
| title_sort | relationship between physical activity life satisfaction emotional regulation and physical self esteem among college students |
| topic | Physical activity Emotional regulation Physical self-esteem Life satisfaction Correlation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00651-w |
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