Analysing the effect of physical exercise on social anxiety in college students using a chained mediation model

Abstract

Abstract To explore the mechanism of physical exercise’s influence on college students’ social anxiety and to analyze the chain-mediated role of mindfulness and mental toughness. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1071 Chinese college students using the Physical Exercise Rating Scale, Social Anxiety Self-Rating Scale, Positive Thoughts Scale, and Mental Toughness Scale. The direct effect value of physical exercise on college students’ social anxiety was − 0.042, the effect values of positive thoughts and mental toughness between physical exercise and college students’ social anxiety were − 0.078 and − 0.007, respectively, and the chain mediation effect of positive thoughts and mental toughness was significant, with an effect value of -0.040. (1) Physical exercise significantly positively predicts positive thoughts and mental toughness and significantly negatively predicts social anxiety; (2) physical exercise has a significant direct and indirect effect on social anxiety in college students. Physical exercise can significantly predict college students’ social anxiety through the independent mediation effect of mindfulness and mental toughness and the chain mediation effect of mindfulness and mental toughness.

Keywords

• Physical exercise
• Social anxiety
• Mindfulness
• Mental toughness