Physical exercise was negatively related to depression among college students (p<0.01), with self-efficacy and self-identity mediating 6.73% and 32.29% of the total association, respectively.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,021)
Yes
Does physical exercise reduce depression in college students?
Physical exercise is negatively associated with depression among college students, a relationship partially mediated by self-efficacy and self-identity.
p-value: p=<0.01
Objective Depression is a common psychological problem among college students, which seriously threatens their physical and mental health and overall development. This study aims to examine the association between physical exercise and depression among college students, and to analyze the mediating associations of self-efficacy and self-identity in this relationship. Methods Convenience sampling was adopted to conduct a questionnaire survey among 2,021 college students (36.86% males, 63.14% females; mean age 19.02 ± 1.38 years) from 8 universities in Henan Province. Data were collected using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Self-Identity Scale (SIS). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and chain mediating effect analysis were conducted using SPSS 27.0 and the PROCESS 4.2 macro program. Results There were significant pairwise correlations among physical exercise, self-efficacy, self-identity, and depression ( p 0.01). The indirect association estimates for self-efficacy and self-identity were −0.015 and −0.072, respectively, and the sequential indirect association estimate for the path self-efficacy → self-identity was −0.037. The three indirect association estimates accounted for 6.73%, 32.29%, and 16.59% of the total association, respectively. Conclusion Physical exercise was negatively related to depression among college students. In addition, this association was linked to indirect pathways involving self-efficacy, self-identity, and their sequential pathway.
Zhang et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression (n=2,021). Physical exercise was evaluated on Association between physical exercise and depression (p=<0.01). Physical exercise was negatively related to depression among college students (p<0.01), with self-efficacy and self-identity mediating 6.73% and 32.29% of the total association, respectively.