The relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction among Chinese university students: the mediating role of self-efficacy and resilience

Abstract Objective To analyze how the physical activity influence life satisfaction of university students and the relationship between those factors. Additionally, this study aims to examine the mediating effects of self-efficacy and Resilience, and to offer recommendations for enhancing the life satisfaction, positive emotions, and behavioral patterns of university students. Methodology: This study used the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Self-Efficacy Scale (CGES), the Mental Toughness Scale (CD-RISC) and the Life Satisfaction Scale (CSLSS) to administer questionnaires to 353 university students from two universities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Using a random simple sampling method. The data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Excel software Results 1) Physical activity was significantly and positively related to self-efficacy, Resilience and life satisfaction; self-efficacy was significantly and positively related to Resilience and life satisfaction; Resilience was significantly and positively related to life satisfaction. 2) Physical exercise had a positive predictive effect on life satisfaction (β = 0.2771; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01905, 0.3637, p < 0.001); 3) Self-efficacy (β = 0.0368, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0087, 0.0692, p < 0.001) and Resilience (β = 0.0137; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0919, 0.01894, p < 0.001) mediated the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction, respectively. Also the chain mediating effect of self-efficacy and Resilience between physical activity and life satisfaction reached significant levels (β = 0.0483, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0279, 0.0745, p < 0.001). Conclusion and outlook: Active participation in physical activity not only improves the level of life satisfaction of college students, but also indirectly influences the level of life satisfaction of college students by enhancing their self-efficacy and Resilience, thus improving the level of life satisfaction of college students.