Effect of physical exercise on social adaptability of college students: Chain intermediary effect of social-emotional competency and self-esteem

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between physical exercise and college students’ social adaptability, as well as the mediating role of social-emotional competency and self-esteem. METHODS: One thousand two hundred thirty college students were investigated by physical exercise questionnaire, social-emotional competency scale, self-esteem scale, and social adaptability scale. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation model test and deviation-corrected percentile Bootstrap method. RESULTS: (1) Physical exercise was positively correlated with social adaptability (r = 0.397, p < 0.01), and the direct path of physical exercise on social adaptability was significant (β = 0.397, t = 15.174, p < 0.01). (2) Physical exercise positively predicted social-emotional competency (β = 0.399, t = 15.235, p < 0.01) and self-esteem (β = 0.305, t = 10.570, p < 0.01). Social-emotional competency positively predicted self-esteem (β = 0.130, t = 4.507, p < 0.01) and social adaptability (β = 0.169, t = 6.104, p < 0.01). Self-esteem positively predicted social adaptability (β = 0.189, t = 6.957, p < 0.01). (3) Social-emotional competency and self-esteem play a significant mediating role between physical exercise and social adaptability. The mediating effect includes three paths: physical exercise→social-emotional competency→social adaptability (the mediating effect value: 0.068); physical exercise→self-esteem→social adaptability (the mediating effect value: 0.059). Physical exercise→social-emotional competency→self-esteem→social adaptability (the mediating effect value: 0.010). CONCLUSION: Physical exercise can not only directly affect social adaptability of college students, but also indirectly affect social adaptability through the independent intermediary role of social-emotional competency and self-esteem. Furthermore, physical exercise also affect social adaptability through the chain mediation of social-emotional competency and self-esteem.