A moderated mediation approach to enhancing autonomous learning in university physical education

This study examines the influence of the family environment on college students' autonomous fitness behavior and explores the mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating effect of psychological resilience in this relationship. Data from 954 college students were collected via a questionnaire survey. The Family Environment Support Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Autonomous Fitness Behavior Scale were used. Statistical analysis was employed to test the hypotheses. The family environment significantly predicts students' autonomous fitness behavior (β = 0.846, p < 0.001). Perceived social support partially mediates the relationship between family environment and autonomous fitness behavior, with a mediating effect value of 0.218. Psychological resilience moderates the indirect pathway linking family environment to autonomous fitness behavior via perceived social support (β = 0.512, p < 0.001). Specifically, the interaction between psychological resilience and family environment shapes individuals' perceived social support, which then further impacts their autonomous fitness behavior. Specifically, the interaction between psychological resilience and family environment affects perceived social support, which in turn influences autonomous fitness behavior. The impact of the family environment on autonomous fitness behavior varies significantly at different levels of psychological resilience. The family environment directly promotes college students' autonomous fitness behavior and enhances it through perceived social support, which partially mediates the relationship between family environment and exercise behavior. The strength of this indirect (mediating) effect depends on the level of psychological resilience-specifically, the mediating role of perceived social support is more pronounced among students with higher psychological resilience, while it is weakened among those with lower resilience.