Pathways linking subjective exercise experience to physical activity: mediation by sport enjoyment and interpersonal peace in adolescents

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) among adolescents is connected to subjective exercise experience (SEE) through sport enjoyment (SE) and interpersonal peace (IP), highlighting the significance of relational mediators. Objective: To evaluate the combined mediating effect of sport enjoyment and interpersonal peace in explaining how subjective exercise experiences influence adolescents’ physical activity levels. Methodology: A cross-sectional design was utilised, which involved a purposive sampling of 743 junior high school students (ages 12–15) in East Java, Indonesia. SEE, SE, IP, and PA were measured using validated scales through online surveys. After adjusting for demographics, path analysis and structural equation modelling examined the direct and indirect effects. Results: SEE negatively correlated with SE (β = −0.224, *p* < 0.01) and IP (β = −0.107, *p* < 0.05), reflecting cultural nuances like performance anxiety. SE mediated 37.9% of PA variance (β = 0.379, *p* < 0.01) and was a stronger mediator than IP (indirect effect: SE = 0.013 vs. IP = 0.043). The dual-mediation model explained 14.7% of PA variance (R² = 0.147) and 28.7% of IP variance (R² = 0.287). No direct SEE-PA path emerged (β = 0.036, *p* > 0.05), highlighting affective primacy. Discussion: Relational factors shape PA, which SE influences. They emphasise the need to reorient physical education towards enjoyment and collaborative tasks to improve social well-being. Conclusions: PA, SE, and IP play a vital role in connecting SEE and PA in adolescents by emphasising culturally tailored interventions and prioritising affective experiences to enhance adherence.