Effect of social support on the subjective well-being among Chinese college athletes: a chain mediation model

Abstract College athletes in higher education experience unique challenges due to dual pressures from their academic and athletic commitments, which may negatively affect their mental well-being. Social support is acknowledged as a protective factor that contributes to the mental well-being of college athletes. However, the mechanisms mediating this relationship remain largely unexplored. The Person-Environment (P-E) Fit Theory and Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT) provide theoretical insights into the mediating mechanisms that explain how contextual factors influence individual well-being. This study examines the independent and sequential mediating roles of P-E fit and basic needs satisfaction in the relationship between social support and subjective well-being among college athletes. Data were collected through cluster random sampling from 822 college athletes across Jiangsu and Yunnan Provinces, China, averaging 20.33 years of age, with 70.44% being male. Structural equation modeling was adopted to examine the hypothetical model. The results indicate that social support directly enhances subjective well-being. Both P-E fit and needs satisfaction partially mediate this relationship, with adjustments for demographic and sports-related variables. The results showed that college athletes’ subjective well-being was interpreted as 47.2% by the overall mode. This study advances the understanding of how social support impacts college athletes’ well-being through specific mechanisms and suggests methods to strengthen support systems in higher education.