Effect of physical exercise on social adaptability of college students: Chain intermediary effect of social-emotional competency and self-esteem

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between physical exercise and college students’ social adaptability, as well as the mediating role of social-emotional competency and self-esteem.MethodsOne thousand two hundred thirty college students were investigated by physical exercise questionnaire, social-emotional competency scale, self-esteem scale, and social adaptability scale. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation model test and deviation-corrected percentile Bootstrap method.Results(1) Physical exercise was positively correlated with social adaptability (r = 0.397, p < 0.01), and the direct path of physical exercise on social adaptability was significant (β = 0.397, t = 15.174, p < 0.01). (2) Physical exercise positively predicted social-emotional competency (β = 0.399, t = 15.235, p < 0.01) and self-esteem (β = 0.305, t = 10.570, p < 0.01). Social-emotional competency positively predicted self-esteem (β = 0.130, t = 4.507, p < 0.01) and social adaptability (β = 0.169, t = 6.104, p < 0.01). Self-esteem positively predicted social adaptability (β = 0.189, t = 6.957, p < 0.01). (3) Social-emotional competency and self-esteem play a significant mediating role between physical exercise and social adaptability. The mediating effect includes three paths: physical exercise→social-emotional competency→social adaptability (the mediating effect value: 0.068); physical exercise→self-esteem→social adaptability (the mediating effect value: 0.059). Physical exercise→social-emotional competency→self-esteem→social adaptability (the mediating effect value: 0.010).ConclusionPhysical exercise can not only directly affect social adaptability of college students, but also indirectly affect social adaptability through the independent intermediary role of social-emotional competency and self-esteem. Furthermore, physical exercise also affect social adaptability through the chain mediation of social-emotional competency and self-esteem.

The effect of physical exercise on social adaptability in Chinese middle school students: The mediating role of social anxiety

“…First, through empirical validation, the study confirms that physical exercise positively predicts middle school students' social adaptability, which is consistent with the findings of previous scholars, [3,18] that is, physical exercise can enhance students' ability to solve social problems and thus improve their social adaptability. Qai et al [2] also explain this through the theory of integrative adaptive development, which holds that the enhancement of adolescents' social adaptation level is based on life and learning practices, [19] and physical exercise, as a kind of challenging social practice activities, is often accompanied by a certain degree of difficulty and challenges, which requires individuals to continuously experience learning and overcome difficulties in the exercise practice, this learning and practice process of completing the challenges can undoubtedly enhance the adolescents' adaptability and ability to deal with things.…”

“…Although this study clarified the relationship between physical exercise, social anxiety, and social adaptability in middle school students and confirmed the mediating role of social anxiety, it did not rule out the existence of other intermediary variables. For example, Liu et al [18] confirmed the mediating role of self-esteem in the effects of physical exercise on social adaptability. The correlation between selfesteem and social anxiety has also been empirically evidenced, [32] suggesting a possible chain mediating role of self-esteem and social anxiety between physical exercise and social adaptability, and future studies can substitute self-esteem into the existing model to further enrich the pathway of physical exercise on social adaptability.…”