The relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being among Chinese junior high school students: A chain mediating model

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to help understand the mechanism behind the relationship between physical exercise and the subjective well-being among Chinese junior high school students, and it is of great significance for the intervention measures to improve the subjective well-being of junior high school students. METHODS: Using stratified cluster sampling method, 1,510 junior high school students (727 males and 783 females) were measured by physical exercise rating scale, perceived social support scale, physical exercise self-efficacy scale, and subjective well-being scale. For data analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, structural equation model test, and bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method were carried out in turn. RESULTS: Common method biases can be accepted in this study. (1) There is a positive correlation between physical exercise and subjective well-being, and physical exercise has a significant predictive effect on subjective well-being(β = 0.367 t = 9.415 p < 0.01); (2) Perceived social support partially mediated the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being (β = 0.08, t = 3.083, p < 0.01), and its effect ratio is 78.047%; (3) Physical exercise self-efficacy plays a partial mediating role between physical exercise and subjective well-being(β = 0.181, t = 5.132, p < 0.01), accounting for 50.632%; (4) The chain mediating effect of perceived social support and physical exercise self-efficacy was significant (the mediating effect value was 0.028), and the effect amount was 7.629%. CONCLUSION: (1) Physical exercise can significantly positively predict the subjective well-being of junior high school students; (2) Physical exercise can also indirectly affect the subjective well-being of junior high school students through the mediating effect of perceived social support and physical exercise self-efficacy. The intermediary effect includes three paths, namely, the individual intermediary effect of perceived social support and physical exercise self-efficacy and the chain intermediary effect of perceived social support physical exercise self-efficacy.