Nie Yuyang, Wang Tianci, Guo Mingming, Zhou Fangbing, Ma Wenxue, Qiu Wentao, Gao Jinchao, Liu Cong
College of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China.
College of Education for the Future, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519087, P.R. China.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 7;15(1):15899. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00651-w.
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.
大学生的生活满意度是一个受多种因素影响的多方面现象。本研究调查体育活动对大学生生活满意度的影响，特别关注情绪调节和身体自尊的中介作用。该研究采用横断面研究方法，对宁夏回族自治区一所高职院校的614名大一学生进行了调查。评估工具包括体育活动量表（PARS - 3）、生活满意度量表、身体自尊量表（PSPP）和青少年情绪调节能力量表。使用SPSS 27进行数据分析，包括描述性统计、信度分析、独立样本t检验、相关分析和中介分析，同时控制性别和民族因素。研究结果显示，大学生群体在体育活动水平、身体自尊和生活满意度方面存在显著的性别差异。中介分析表明，虽然体育活动对生活满意度的直接影响在统计学上不显著（P > 0.05），但其通过情绪调节（β = 0.0269，P < 0.001）和身体自尊（β = 0.0837，P < 0.001）的间接影响非常显著。此外，体育活动通过情绪调节和身体自尊的联合中介路径对生活满意度有正向预测作用（β = 0.0049，P < 0.001）。因此，该研究得出结论，虽然体育活动对大学生生活满意度的直接影响可能不明显，但其积极作用主要通过情绪调节和身体自尊的中介来实现，这为院校提高学生的整体幸福感提供了有价值的见解。
