Physical activity and depression of Chinese students in Korea: self-efficacy as a mediator and social support as a moderator

These findings elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which physical activity benefits mental health, highlighting the synergistic roles of self-efficacy (as an internal psychological resource) and social support (as an external buffering factor); the study provides empirical support for integrated interventions combining physical activity promotion, self-efficacy enhancement, and social support reinforcement to mitigate depression among international students, and demonstrates that enhancing self-efficacy and reinforcing social support can significantly amplify the antidepressant effects of physical activity in this group, offering new insights for cross-cultural mental health interventions.