Zhang Yiqi, He Junlin, Ruan Han, Yao Pin, Ma Guoliang
First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
School of Health Management, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Front Psychol. 2025 Aug 12;16:1609415. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1609415. eCollection 2025.
This study aims to investigate the mediating role of emotional regulation in the relationship between physical exercise and suicidal ideation among Chinese medical students. The study specifically examined how exercise-induced enhancement of emotional regulatory capacity may mitigate suicide risk through neurobiological and psychological pathways.
A cross-sectional study assessed 852 medical students using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3) to categorize exercise intensity (low: 51.9%; moderate: 25.9%; high: 22.2%). Suicidal ideation was measured with the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Scale (PANSI), emotional regulation capacity with the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and psychological symptoms with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Independent t-tests, ANOVA tests, and mediation modeling were used for analysis.
The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 8.10% (69/852), consistent with national epidemiological data. Males exhibited significantly lower depression (Δ = -1.24, < 0.05) and anxiety (Δ = -0.87, < 0.05) scores than females. Students engaging in high/moderate-intensity exercise demonstrated lower rates of depression and psychosis compared to low-intensity exercisers ( < 0.05). Emotional regulation mediated 38.1% of the protective effect of exercise against suicidal ideation ( < 0.01), aligning with established neurobiological pathways linking physical activity to mood regulation.
The physical exercise habits of medical students are intricately linked to their mental and emotional well-being. It is recommended that medical institutions intensify efforts to promote physical exercise and encourage greater participation among medical students. This proactive approach can contribute to reducing suicidal ideation among medical students and enhancing their overall mental health.
本研究旨在探讨情绪调节在中国医学生体育锻炼与自杀意念关系中的中介作用。该研究具体考察了运动诱导的情绪调节能力增强如何通过神经生物学和心理途径降低自杀风险。
一项横断面研究使用体力活动评定量表-3（PARS-3）对852名医学生进行评估，以对运动强度进行分类（低强度：51.9%；中等强度：25.9%；高强度：22.2%）。自杀意念采用正负性自杀意念量表（PANSI）测量，情绪调节能力采用情绪调节问卷（ERQ）测量，心理症状采用症状自评量表90（SCL-90）测量。采用独立样本t检验、方差分析和中介模型进行分析。
自杀意念的发生率为8.10%（69/852），与全国流行病学数据一致。男性的抑郁得分（Δ=-1.24，<0.05）和焦虑得分（Δ=-0.87，<0.05）显著低于女性。与低强度运动者相比，进行高/中等强度运动的学生抑郁和精神病发生率较低（<0.05）。情绪调节介导了运动对自杀意念保护作用的38.1%（<0.01），这与将体育活动与情绪调节联系起来的既定神经生物学途径一致。
医学生的体育锻炼习惯与其心理和情绪健康密切相关。建议医疗机构加大力度推广体育锻炼，鼓励医学生更多地参与。这种积极主动的方法有助于降低医学生的自杀意念，提高他们的整体心理健康水平。
