Exercise and Adolescent Flourishing: A Gender-Specific Chain Mediation Model Involving Mindfulness and Rumination

Introduction: This study examined the association between physical exercise and flourishing among adolescents, focusing on the potential mediating roles of mindfulness and rumination. Methods: A total of 1608 adolescents (mean age =16.02 ± 1.16 years) were assessed using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Rumination Response Scale, and the Flourishing Scale. Chain mediation analyses were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 6). Results: Physical exercise was positively associated with flourishing in both adolescent boys (r = 0.254) and adolescent girls (r = 0.202). For adolescent boys, the total association between physical exercise and flourishing was 0.220, with a non-significant direct effect (0.031) and significant indirect effects (0.189). Indirect pathways included mindfulness (effect = 0.086; share = 39.09%), rumination (effect = 0.027; share = 12.27%), and the sequential pathway of mindfulness and rumination (effect = 0.076; share = 34.55%). For adolescent girls, the total association was 0.192, with both direct (0.119) and indirect effects (0.073). Significant indirect pathways were observed through mindfulness (effect = 0.041; share = 21.35%) and the sequential pathway of mindfulness and rumination (effect = 0.043; share = 22.40%), whereas rumination alone was not significantly associated. Conclusion: Physical exercise was associated with flourishing among adolescents. For boys, the association was primarily observed through independent pathways involving mindfulness and rumination, as well as their sequential chain mediation. For girls, flourishing was associated with both direct and indirect pathways involving mindfulness and the sequential pathway of mindfulness and rumination. Diagram showing exercise’s impact on flourishing for 694 girls and 914 boys using various scales.