A017: The Relationship Between Physical Activity and SubjectiveWell-Being in Undergraduates

Purpose: The aims of this study were to explore (1) the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being of undergraduates and (2) the mediating role of emotion regulation self-efficacy and resilience. Method: Three hundred and one undergraduates were assessed using the physical activity rating scale, regulatory emotion self-efficacy scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale and subjective well-being scale. SPSS version 25.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: (1) Physical activity was significantly associated with emotion regulation self-efficacy (r=0.208, p < 0.05), resilience (r=0.211, p < 0.05) and subjective well-being (r=0.200, p < 0.05). Emotion regulation self-efficacy was significantly associated with resilience (r=0.767, p < 0.05) and subjective well-being (r=0.723, p < 0.05). Resilience was significantly associated with subjective well-being (r=0.734, p < 0.05). (2) Considering emotion regulation self-efficacy and resilience as mediating variables, physical activity did not significantly predict resilience (β=0.022, p > 0.05) and subjective well-being (β=0.027, p > 0.05); however, physical activity could significantly predict emotion regulation self-efficacy (β=0.089, p < 0.05), emotion regulation self-efficacy could significantly predict resilience (β=0.722, p < 0.05) and subjective well-being (β=0.819, p < 0.05), and resilience could significantly predict subjective well-being (β=0.962, p < 0.05). (3) The mediating effect of emotion regulation self-efficacy was significant in the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being (95%CI [0.035, 0.126]), while the chain mediating effect between emotion regulation self-efficacy and resilience was significant in the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being (95%CI [0.029, 0.109]). Conclusion: Emotion regulation self-efficacy and resilience played a chain mediating role between physical activity and subjective well-being. The results of this study could provide some inspiration for the improvement of undergraduates’ subjective well-being. However, this study was a cross-sectional investigation that could not test the causal relationship among variables. Future studies should use experimental or longitudinal methods to further explore the mechanisms among these variables.