The Mediating Effect of Social Support in Exercise Interventions for Anxiety Reduction

This study systematically analyzes the mechanisms by which exercise interventions alleviate anxiety, emphasizing the synergistic effects of neurophysiological regulation, cognitive restructuring, and social support. Exercise improves physiological stress responses by modulating neurotransmitter levels and HPA axis function, complemented by the optimization of cognitive structures, which enhances individuals' self-efficacy and emotional regulation abilities. Social support, as a key mediating variable, plays an important role in buffering stress and providing psychological resources, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of exercise interventions. Integrating social cognitive theory and social capital theory, this study constructs a multi-level mechanism model, revealing the path relationships of social support in exercise interventions, providing theoretical support for the optimization of psychological intervention strategies. The results indicate that social support not only enriches the pathways of exercise in alleviating anxiety but also has important guiding significance in clinical practice, providing a theoretical basis for achieving personalized and systematic anxiety interventions. Future research could further validate the path model, expand multidisciplinary integration, and provide continuous support for the scientific rigor and precision of mental health interventions.