This study, based on structural equation modeling (SEM), investigates the effects of sleep quality, dietary habits, and physical activity on college students’ physical fitness, with a particular focus on the mediating role of emotional states. Using survey data from 794 college students, empirical analysis reveals that sleep quality significantly and positively predicts both emotional states and physical fitness, and also exerts an indirect effect on physical fitness through emotional states. Physical activity has a direct positive effect on physical fitness but shows no significant influence on emotional states. The paths from dietary habits to emotional states and physical fitness are not statistically significant. Emotional states partially mediate the relationship between sleep quality and physical fitness. These findings enrich the theoretical understanding of health behavior among college students and provide empirical support for targeted health interventions in higher education settings.
Wang et al. (2025) studied this question.