The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Emotional Intelligence in College Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Background: College students are an inexhaustible driving force for social development, and college students with good physical and psychological qualities can better adapt to changes in the external environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the intrinsic relationship of physical activity and emotional intelligence among college students and to determine the primary role of self-efficacy in their relationships.Methods: Eight hundred thirty-five college students from two comprehensive universities in Southwest China, whose average age was 20.13 ± 1.06 years old, were investigated using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Chinese Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and other measuring tools. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze and process the data with Independent sample t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis, and Amos 21.0 software was used to build the structural equation model. Results:(1) In terms of physical activity amount, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence, male college students scored higher than female students. Furthermore, college students in humanities and social sciences had lower self-efficacy. In contrast, senior students had the lowest levels of physical activity and self-efficacy, and there was no discipline or grade distribution difference in emotional intelligence. (2) Physical activity amount was positively correlated with emotional intelligence (r = 0.24, P < 0.001) and with self-efficacy (r = 0.26, P < 0.001), and self-efficacy was positively correlated with emotional intelligence in college students (r = 0.18, P < 0.001). (3) Self-efficacy played a partial mediating role between physical activity and emotional intelligence in college students (ES = 0.06). Conclusion:Regular physical activity can improve the self-efficacy and emotional intelligence of college students, and effectively promote the physical and mental development of students.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Procrastination in Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy

“…The positive impact of PA on self-efficacy in the study is not surprising, and the finding is in line with the previous studies [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Also being consistent with the existing literature, self-efficacy has a negative impact on AP [ 11 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Research has found that PA was positively related to self-efficacy in adolescents and older adults [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. The positive relationship between PA and self-efficacy was also found in college students, and the higher PA intensity, the higher level of self-efficacy [ 31 ]. Additionally, different formats of PA such as aerobic exercise, resistance training, or mind-body technique (e.g., Yoga, Tai Chi) could also enhance self-efficacy [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Sports College Students and Entrepreneurship: An Investigation into Entrepreneurship Tendencies

“…Physical activities performed at different intensities have a significant effect on self-efficacy as shown in a study conducted on high school students (Zhao et al, 2019). Unlike the findings of our study, Wang et al (2020) found that the self-efficacy of senior university students is low, adding that the reason for this is the anxiety of finding a job after graduation.…”

“…This is possible because of the general cultural structure of Turkish society, in which socio-cultural factors are effective depending on the social role of men, and men take a more active role in social life. The literature review shows that the results of Özkara ( 2019), Atasoy and Aktaş (2020), and İrmiş and Barutçu (2012) overlap the results of this study in terms of entrepreneurship while the results of Wang et al (2020) overlap the results of this study in terms of self-efficacy…”

Inadequate Mental Health Literacy and Insufficient Physical Activity Potentially Increase the Risks of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese College Students

“…As the extension of the concept of health literacy, mental health literacy has similar functions, which could increase the level of physical activity in students through improving the in-depth understanding of perceived exercise benefit (15,20). Addition, past researches that have revealed self-efficacy may not always directly affect physical activity, instead acting in conjunction with behavioral capability (knowledge and/or skill) variables, such as health literacy (26,46). Furthermore, higher health literacy levels strengthened the positive relationship between self-efficacy and health behaviors (47).…”