From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity

Objective To investigate whether physical literacy mediates the relationship between grit and well-being among college students with obesity. Methods A total of 385 students with obesity were recruited. Participants completed validated questionnaires measuring grit, physical literacy, and well-being...

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Main Authors: Xingyu Liu, Zidong Li, Wanru Cheng, Jian Zhang, Xiaoyu Ma, Di Tang, Jinde Liu, Tianyu Gao, Ting Liu, Tao Chen, Ruisi Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2025-05-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/19382.pdf
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author Xingyu Liu
Zidong Li
Wanru Cheng
Jian Zhang
Xiaoyu Ma
Di Tang
Jinde Liu
Tianyu Gao
Ting Liu
Tao Chen
Ruisi Ma
author_facet Xingyu Liu
Zidong Li
Wanru Cheng
Jian Zhang
Xiaoyu Ma
Di Tang
Jinde Liu
Tianyu Gao
Ting Liu
Tao Chen
Ruisi Ma
author_sort Xingyu Liu
collection DOAJ
description Objective To investigate whether physical literacy mediates the relationship between grit and well-being among college students with obesity. Methods A total of 385 students with obesity were recruited. Participants completed validated questionnaires measuring grit, physical literacy, and well-being. Mediation analyses were performed to estimate indirect effects and generate bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Grit was positively associated with physical literacy, and physical literacy was positively associated with well-being. Physical literacy partially mediated the relationship between grit and well-being, with the indirect effect accounting for 26.32% of the total effect (indirect effect = 0.20, 95% CI [0.09–0.31]). In a parallel mediation model analyzing the subdimensions of physical literacy, the “interaction with the environment” emerged as the strongest mediator (indirect effect = 0.15, 95% CI [0.10–0.21]), accounting for 19.74% of the total effect. The indirect effects through “motivation” and “confidence and physical competence” were also significant but accounted for smaller proportions of the total effect (6.58% and 5.26%, respectively). Conclusions These findings serve as an initial step in understanding how physical literacy, particularly the ability to interact with the environment, partially mediates the relationship between grit and well-being among college students with obesity. Future interventional research aiming to enhance physical literacy—especially environmental engagement—is needed to confirm whether it can amplify the positive impact of grit on well-being. A multifaceted approach that fosters both psychological traits and physical competencies may prove beneficial in improving the psychological and physical health of this population.
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spelling doaj-art-352ff6d3eec94f179fd8a9365dc4cda32025-08-20T02:57:20ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-05-0113e1938210.7717/peerj.19382From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesityXingyu Liu0Zidong Li1Wanru Cheng2Jian Zhang3Xiaoyu Ma4Di Tang5Jinde Liu6Tianyu Gao7Ting Liu8Tao Chen9Ruisi Ma10Badminton Technical and Tactical Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, National Academy of Badminton, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, ChinaBadminton Technical and Tactical Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, National Academy of Badminton, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaThe Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong KongFaculty of Physical Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaBadminton Technical and Tactical Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, National Academy of Badminton, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, ChinaObjective To investigate whether physical literacy mediates the relationship between grit and well-being among college students with obesity. Methods A total of 385 students with obesity were recruited. Participants completed validated questionnaires measuring grit, physical literacy, and well-being. Mediation analyses were performed to estimate indirect effects and generate bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Grit was positively associated with physical literacy, and physical literacy was positively associated with well-being. Physical literacy partially mediated the relationship between grit and well-being, with the indirect effect accounting for 26.32% of the total effect (indirect effect = 0.20, 95% CI [0.09–0.31]). In a parallel mediation model analyzing the subdimensions of physical literacy, the “interaction with the environment” emerged as the strongest mediator (indirect effect = 0.15, 95% CI [0.10–0.21]), accounting for 19.74% of the total effect. The indirect effects through “motivation” and “confidence and physical competence” were also significant but accounted for smaller proportions of the total effect (6.58% and 5.26%, respectively). Conclusions These findings serve as an initial step in understanding how physical literacy, particularly the ability to interact with the environment, partially mediates the relationship between grit and well-being among college students with obesity. Future interventional research aiming to enhance physical literacy—especially environmental engagement—is needed to confirm whether it can amplify the positive impact of grit on well-being. A multifaceted approach that fosters both psychological traits and physical competencies may prove beneficial in improving the psychological and physical health of this population.https://peerj.com/articles/19382.pdfGritPhysical literacyWell-beingObesityCollege studentsMediation analysis
spellingShingle Xingyu Liu
Zidong Li
Wanru Cheng
Jian Zhang
Xiaoyu Ma
Di Tang
Jinde Liu
Tianyu Gao
Ting Liu
Tao Chen
Ruisi Ma
From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity
PeerJ
Grit
Physical literacy
Well-being
Obesity
College students
Mediation analysis
title From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity
title_full From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity
title_fullStr From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity
title_full_unstemmed From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity
title_short From grit to flourishing: physical literacy’s mediating role in enhancing well-being among college students with obesity
title_sort from grit to flourishing physical literacy s mediating role in enhancing well being among college students with obesity
topic Grit
Physical literacy
Well-being
Obesity
College students
Mediation analysis
url https://peerj.com/articles/19382.pdf
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