MOTIVATION MATTERS: HOW THE UNIVERSITY SPORTS ENVIRONMENT SHAPES EXERCISE HABITS OF CHINESE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN XI’AN

The theory of motivation advises that individual behaviors are driven by internal and external stimuli that shape the intensity and direction of action. Within the university sports environment, appropriate motivational stimulation can positively influence students’ engagement in physical activity. Therefore, a supportive and motivating sports environment is likely to foster better exercise habits among Chinese college students in Xi’an. To examine how the university sports environment influences the development of exercise habits through motivational factors, and to explore the mediating roles of leisure satisfaction and mental toughness in shaping these habits among Chinese college students in Xi’an. The study aims to provide empirical evidence on enhancing student participation in exercise through an improved motivational climate in university sports settings. A stratified whole-sample approach was embraced to survey 715 college students in Xi’an. Validated measurement scales were used to assess the impact of the university sports environment, exercise motivation, leisure satisfaction, mental toughness, and exercise habits. Statistical analyses, including mediation consequence tests, were directed using SPSS and AMOS to determine relationships among the variables. The university sports environment had a significant positive impact on exercise motivation (β = 0.50, p < 0.001), which in turn positively influenced leisure satisfaction (β = 0.47, p < 0.001), mental toughness (β = 0.44, p < 0.001), and the formation of consistent exercise habits (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). Both leisure satisfaction and mental toughness significantly predicted stronger exercise habits (β = 0.35, p < 0.001; β = 0.29, p < 0.001, respectively) and mediated the relationship between motivation and habit formation. The findings underscore the crucial role of a motivating university sports environment in shaping exercise behaviors among college students and highlight the psychological mechanisms through which these effects occur.