The Effect of Physical Activity Level on Trait Anxiety in College Students: The Mediating Role of Executive Function

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between physical activity level, executive function, and trait anxiety and focused on investigating the mediating role of the subcomponents of executive functions between different levels of physical activity intensity and trait anxiety.Methods: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Stroop task, 1-back task, and More-odd shifting task were used to analyze 248 college students by one-way ANOVA, linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling analysis.Results: Trait anxiety were significantly correlated with shifting function (r=0.182, P=0.004) and inhibition function (r=0.163, P=0.010) and not with working memory (r=0.056, P=0.385). High-intensity physical activity level was most highly correlated with inhibition function (Beta=-0.144, P=0.024) and working memory (Beta=-0.208, P=0.001), and low-intensity physical activity level was most highly correlated with shifting function (Beta=-0.211, P=0.001). Physical activity level had a 72.31% direct effect on reducing trait anxiety (B=-0.195), with 11.79% mediated by inhibition function (B=-0.023) and 15.90% by shifting function (B=-0.031). High-intensity physical activity level had a direct effect on alleviating trait anxiety in 81.08% (B=-0.150), 9.19% mediated by inhibition function (B=-0.017), and 9.73% mediated by shifting function (B=-0.018). The effect of medium-intensity physical activity level on trait anxiety was 40.91% mediated by inhibition function (B=-0.018) and 56.82% mediated by shifting function (B=0.025). The effect of the low-intensity physical activity level on trait anxiety was mediated 34.62% by inhibition function (B=-0.018) and 65.38% by shifting function (B=-0.034).Conclusion: College students with trait anxiety suffer from impaired inhibition and shifting function. The facilitation effects of physical activity levels on executive function subcomponents were, in descending order, working memory, shifting function, and inhibition function, with high-intensity physical activity level contributing most to the facilitation of working memory and inhibition function, and low-intensity physical activity level contributing most to the promotion of shifting function. Physical activity promotes both inhibition and shifting functions, which in turn affect trait anxiety. The high-intensity physical activity level has a direct effect on trait anxiety, while the anxiolytic effect of medium and low-intensity physical activity level is mediated exclusively through executive functions, with the highest mediating effect of shifting function.