Community sports governance and physical activity participation: evidence on mediation by facilities and moderation by awareness

As urbanization accelerates across China, community-level sports governance is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in promoting public health through physical activity (PA). However, little is known about the specific mechanisms by which governance structures influence residents' sports participation, particularly in the presence of sports infrastructure and public awareness. This cross-sectional study surveyed 735 residents in Dongguan, China, using validated instruments to assess perceptions of community sports governance, sports infrastructure development, awareness of sports policies, and physical activity participation. A structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to test the hypothesized mediating effect of sports infrastructure and moderating role of awareness on the relationship between sports governance and physical activity behavior. The sports governance system (SGS) significantly influenced physical activity participation (β = 0.323, p < 0.001), primarily through the mediating role of sports infrastructure development (SID) (indirect effect β = 0.147, p < 0.001). Public awareness of sports (PAS) significantly moderated the impact of governance on infrastructure (interaction β = 0.377, p < 0.001), with a smaller but significant total effect on physical activity (β = 0.063, p < 0.001). The final model explained 41.0% of the variance in SID and 22.1% in PA participation. Community sports governance indirectly promotes physical activity primarily by improving local infrastructure. This effect is further strengthened by residents' awareness of sports programs and policies. Effective physical activity promotion requires not only investments in facilities but also efforts to raise public awareness. These findings support the need for multi-sectoral, system-level strategies integrating governance, infrastructure, and education to improve community health.