Physical exercise and college students’ sense of meaning in life: Chain mediating effect test

Abstract

Abstract Background To explore the impact mechanism of physical exercise on the sense of meaning in life of college students, and analyze the chain mediating effect between self-concept and self-control. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted on 923 college students in China using the Physical Exercise Rating Scale (PARS-3), Life Meaning Scale, Self Concept Scale, and Self Control Scale. Results (1) Physical exercise, self-concept, self-control and sense of meaning in life are significantly related to each other; (2) Self-concept and self-control play a chain mediating role between physical exercise and college students’ sense of meaning in life, with an effect value of 0.042, accounting for 5.48% of the total effect. Conclusion Physical exercise can directly enhance the sense of meaning in life of college students, and can also indirectly enhance it not only through the mediating effect of self-concept and self-control, but also through the chain mediating effect of the two. These results provide theoretical reference for college students to improve their sense of life meaning and mental health education.

Keywords

• Physical exercise
• Self-control
• Self-concept
• A sense of meaning in life
• College students