A chain mediation model of physical exercise and BrainRot behavior among adolescents

This study aims to explore the impact of physical exercise on BrainRot behavior, as well as the mediating roles of Resilience and Ego depletion in the relationship between Physical exercise and BrainRot behavior. A total of 1091 adolescents from Sichuan and Hunan provinces completed self-report surveys on physical exercise, BrainRot behavior, resilience, and ego depletion. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation effect testing were conducted. After controlling for demographic variables, ego depletion was found to have an independent mediating effect between physical exercise and BrainRot behavior. Physical exercise was found to negatively predict ego depletion, which in turn significantly and positively predicted BrainRot behavior. The hypothesis that resilience played a mediating role between physical exercise and BrainRot behavior was not supported. Physical exercise significantly predicted resilience, but resilience did not significantly predict BrainRot behavior. Resilience and ego depletion exhibited a chained mediating effect between physical exercise and BrainRot behavior. Resilience could negatively predict ego depletion. Physical exercise could significantly predict BrainRot behavior. Moreover, during the analysis of the indirect effect, it was revealed that the negative predictive effect of physical exercise on BrainRot behavior remained significant. This study further investigates the multivariate mechanisms of influence between physical exercise and BrainRot behavior among adolescents.