The effect of exercise motivation on college students’ self-efficacy: the mediating roles of leisure satisfaction and mental toughness

A significant positive effect of exercise motivation on self-efficacy (<i>β</i> = 0.18, <i>p</i> < 0.001), leisure satisfaction (<i>β</i> = 0.50, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and mental toughness (<i>β</i> = 0.45, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Leisure satisfaction and mental toughness had a significant positive effect on self-efficacy (<i>β</i> = 0.40, <i>p</i> < 0.001; <i>β</i> = 0.30, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Furthermore, leisure satisfaction and mental toughness significantly mediated in exercise motivation and self-efficacy. In conclusion, our findings further explored the effects of exercise motivation on college students' self-efficacy and revealed the mediating roles of leisure satisfaction and mental toughness.