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Objective Physical education, as a central component of educational systems, plays a unique role in enhancing the psychological well-being of university students. This study investigates the impacts of physical education on students’ mental health and examines the mediating roles of social support and exercise behavior. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Physical Education Satisfaction Scale, SCL-90, the Social Support Questionnaire, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 1,437 university students were assessed. Results The research found a positive correlation between physical education at universities and students’ mental health, with a direct significant effect ( β = 0.622, p 0.001). Moreover, physical education positively influenced social support and exercise behavior ( β = 0.523, p 0.001; β = 0.473, p 0.001). In turn, social support significantly fostered exercise behavior and improved mental health ( β = 0.578, p 0.001; β = 0.277, p 0.001). Additionally, enhanced exercise behavior positively contributed to better mental health ( β = 0.357, p 0.001). Conclusion Physical education is a crucial influencing factor for university students’ psychological health and also indirectly impacts mental well-being through improved social support and increased exercise behavior.
Han et al. (Tue,) studied this question.