Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior
IntroductionThis study explores the relationship between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior in the context of China’s pursuit of common prosperity. Specifically, it examines whether individuals who regularly engage in physical activity are more likely to donate to charitable causes a...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1606795/full |
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| author | Xiaojuan Yang Xiaojuan Yang |
| author_facet | Xiaojuan Yang Xiaojuan Yang |
| author_sort | Xiaojuan Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis study explores the relationship between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior in the context of China’s pursuit of common prosperity. Specifically, it examines whether individuals who regularly engage in physical activity are more likely to donate to charitable causes and in greater amounts, as well as the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship.MethodsUsing nationally representative data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2012), we conducted multivariate regression analyses to estimate the association between physical exercise and donation behavior. To ensure the robustness of the results, we performed a series of sensitivity analyses, including propensity score matching, alternative outcome measures, and different model specifications. Mediation analyses were also conducted to test the potential mediating roles of social responsibility and subjective well-being, drawing on theories of altruism and reciprocity.ResultsThe findings indicate a significant positive association between participation in physical exercise and both the likelihood of charitable donation and the amount donated. Robustness checks confirmed the stability of these results. Furthermore, heterogeneity analyses revealed that this relationship does not vary significantly across gender, age, or household registration status. Mediation analysis showed that both social responsibility and subjective well-being partially mediate the relationship between exercise and donation behavior.DiscussionThe findings of this study underscore the potential societal benefits of promoting mass participation in physical exercise. By fostering a sense of social responsibility and enhancing subjective well-being, physical exercise may serve as a pathway to broader civic engagement. Promoting mass sports participation could thus support societal goals such as advancing common prosperity in China. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-93fdb7bd1b954300aea30848f82b6eeb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-93fdb7bd1b954300aea30848f82b6eeb2025-08-20T03:13:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16067951606795Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behaviorXiaojuan Yang0Xiaojuan Yang1School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Economics and Trade, Anhui Technical College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wuhu, ChinaIntroductionThis study explores the relationship between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior in the context of China’s pursuit of common prosperity. Specifically, it examines whether individuals who regularly engage in physical activity are more likely to donate to charitable causes and in greater amounts, as well as the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship.MethodsUsing nationally representative data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2012), we conducted multivariate regression analyses to estimate the association between physical exercise and donation behavior. To ensure the robustness of the results, we performed a series of sensitivity analyses, including propensity score matching, alternative outcome measures, and different model specifications. Mediation analyses were also conducted to test the potential mediating roles of social responsibility and subjective well-being, drawing on theories of altruism and reciprocity.ResultsThe findings indicate a significant positive association between participation in physical exercise and both the likelihood of charitable donation and the amount donated. Robustness checks confirmed the stability of these results. Furthermore, heterogeneity analyses revealed that this relationship does not vary significantly across gender, age, or household registration status. Mediation analysis showed that both social responsibility and subjective well-being partially mediate the relationship between exercise and donation behavior.DiscussionThe findings of this study underscore the potential societal benefits of promoting mass participation in physical exercise. By fostering a sense of social responsibility and enhancing subjective well-being, physical exercise may serve as a pathway to broader civic engagement. Promoting mass sports participation could thus support societal goals such as advancing common prosperity in China.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1606795/fullphysical exercisesense of social responsibilitysubjective well-beingdonation participationdonation amount |
| spellingShingle | Xiaojuan Yang Xiaojuan Yang Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior Frontiers in Psychology physical exercise sense of social responsibility subjective well-being donation participation donation amount |
| title | Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior |
| title_full | Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior |
| title_short | Enhancing generosity through movement: association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior |
| title_sort | enhancing generosity through movement association between physical exercise and charitable donation behavior |
| topic | physical exercise sense of social responsibility subjective well-being donation participation donation amount |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1606795/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xiaojuanyang enhancinggenerositythroughmovementassociationbetweenphysicalexerciseandcharitabledonationbehavior AT xiaojuanyang enhancinggenerositythroughmovementassociationbetweenphysicalexerciseandcharitabledonationbehavior |