The Mediating Effect of Coping Style on Physical Activity and Negative Affect Caused by Public Health Emergencies: Evidence from Chinese College Students

In this study, we explored the relationship between physical activity (PA), coping style (CS) and negative affect caused by public health emergencies (PHENA), to examine if CS can play a mediating role between PA and PHENA, and analyzed the different effects of positive coping (PC) and negative coping (NC). Using the method of random sampling, 700 students from four universities in Beijing and Shanghai were recruited to complete questionnaires about PA, CS and PHENA. Data collection was conducted through online and offline questionnaires. Firstly, there is a significant correlation between PA, CS and PHENA. Secondly, PA can negatively predict PHENA, and PA has positive impact on PC and negative impact on NC. Thirdly, the mediating role of NC related to PHENA is significant, the mediating role of PC related to PHENA is not significant. College students’ participation in physical activity can reduce the probability of adopting negative coping mechanisms, thereby alleviating the PHENA.