Mental health literacy and anxiety in college students mediating role of psychological resilience and moderating role of physical exercise

With the increasing social competition and academic pressure, the mental health issues of university students have gradually gained widespread attention, particularly the prevalent issue of anxiety. This research focuses on exploring how mental health literacy affects anxiety among college students, including both the intermediary role of psychological resilience and the moderating effect of physical exercise. Data from college students at Xi'an Peihua University were collected through an online questionnaire, measuring mental health literacy, psychological resilience, physical exercise, and anxiety levels. A total of 752 valid responses were obtained, and statistical correlation was analyzed through SPSS 27.0, with mediation and moderated mediation effects analyzed using the PROCESS macro. The results indicate that college students' mental health literacy and psychological resilience are strongly linked to anxiety, and psychological resilience plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between mental health literacy and anxiety levels. Meanwhile, physical exercise moderates both the first and second parts of the mediated pathway from "mental health literacy to psychological resilience to anxiety levels." The findings of this study highlight the mediation of psychological resilience and the moderation by physical exercise, providing new perspectives and practical evidence for mental health intervention strategies for college students. The study suggests that universities should strengthen resilience education and physical exercise intensity to help students more effectively alleviate anxiety and improve their mental health levels.