Physical exercise and subjective well-being: Peer relationships and perceived social support as mediators

We examined the effects of physical exercise on college students’ subjective well-being and tested the chain mediating effects of peer relationships and perceived social support. The participants consisted of 951 college students who completed the Physical Exercise Rating Scale, Subjective Well-Being Scale, Peer Relationships Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Our study found that physical exercise was positively related to subjective wellbeing. Peer relationships and perceived social support had independent and interlocking mediating effects on the link between physical exercise and subjective well-being. These findings explain the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being, and they provide practical insights for promoting subjective well-being among college students.