The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students
BackgroundNegative emotions among college students, particularly those who are physically weak, have raised concerns due to their impact on mental health and, in some cases, the development of suicidal tendencies. Limited physical activity exacerbates these mental health risks. It is essential to ex...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1530988/full |
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| author | Yunchen Meng Yang Wang Qiushi Liu Chao Liang Sanjun Yang |
| author_facet | Yunchen Meng Yang Wang Qiushi Liu Chao Liang Sanjun Yang |
| author_sort | Yunchen Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundNegative emotions among college students, particularly those who are physically weak, have raised concerns due to their impact on mental health and, in some cases, the development of suicidal tendencies. Limited physical activity exacerbates these mental health risks. It is essential to explore the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and negative emotions in this population.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and negative emotions among physically weak college students.MethodsA stratified sampling approach was employed to select 1,248 first- and second-year students from a university in Beijing. Physical activity levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), sleep quality was evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and depression, anxiety, and stress were measured via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore associations among these variables. Additionally, a mediation effect model was utilized to examine the mediating role of sleep quality between physical activity and negative emotions.ResultsThe incidence of negative emotions was significantly higher among physically weak college students compared to their peers (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression results indicated that increased physical activity intensity was associated with a lower occurrence of negative emotions (OR = 0.514, 95% CI: 0.367–0.719). Linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between higher physical activity intensity and better sleep quality (a = −0.185, p < 0.01). The mediation effect analysis revealed that sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between physical activity and negative emotions, with total, direct, and indirect effects of −0.67, −0.60, and −0.097, respectively. Sleep quality accounted for 14.6% of the total effect in this relationship.ConclusionThe incidence of negative emotions among physically weak college students is significantly higher than among their peers and increased physical activity intensity is significantly associated with a decrease in negative emotions. Sleep quality plays a crucial mediating role in this relationship. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for developing targeted mental health interventions for physically weak college students and highlight the importance of sleep quality in improving their mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4239458df0f7438bb2c2733e3b7548fc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-4239458df0f7438bb2c2733e3b7548fc2025-08-20T02:47:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15309881530988The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college studentsYunchen Meng0Yang Wang1Qiushi Liu2Chao Liang3Sanjun Yang4Department of Physical Education and Research, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education and Research, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, ChinaRDFZ Chaoyang School, Beijing, ChinaBeijing National Day School-Zhong Guan Cun Ke Xue Cheng, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education and Research, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundNegative emotions among college students, particularly those who are physically weak, have raised concerns due to their impact on mental health and, in some cases, the development of suicidal tendencies. Limited physical activity exacerbates these mental health risks. It is essential to explore the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and negative emotions in this population.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and negative emotions among physically weak college students.MethodsA stratified sampling approach was employed to select 1,248 first- and second-year students from a university in Beijing. Physical activity levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), sleep quality was evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and depression, anxiety, and stress were measured via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore associations among these variables. Additionally, a mediation effect model was utilized to examine the mediating role of sleep quality between physical activity and negative emotions.ResultsThe incidence of negative emotions was significantly higher among physically weak college students compared to their peers (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression results indicated that increased physical activity intensity was associated with a lower occurrence of negative emotions (OR = 0.514, 95% CI: 0.367–0.719). Linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between higher physical activity intensity and better sleep quality (a = −0.185, p < 0.01). The mediation effect analysis revealed that sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between physical activity and negative emotions, with total, direct, and indirect effects of −0.67, −0.60, and −0.097, respectively. Sleep quality accounted for 14.6% of the total effect in this relationship.ConclusionThe incidence of negative emotions among physically weak college students is significantly higher than among their peers and increased physical activity intensity is significantly associated with a decrease in negative emotions. Sleep quality plays a crucial mediating role in this relationship. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for developing targeted mental health interventions for physically weak college students and highlight the importance of sleep quality in improving their mental health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1530988/fullphysically weak college studentsphysical activitydepressionanxietystresssleep quality |
| spellingShingle | Yunchen Meng Yang Wang Qiushi Liu Chao Liang Sanjun Yang The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students Frontiers in Public Health physically weak college students physical activity depression anxiety stress sleep quality |
| title | The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students |
| title_full | The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students |
| title_short | The relationship between physical activity, sleep, and negative emotions in physically weak college students |
| title_sort | relationship between physical activity sleep and negative emotions in physically weak college students |
| topic | physically weak college students physical activity depression anxiety stress sleep quality |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1530988/full |
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