Chain mediated effects of stress perception and loneliness on the relationship between physical exercise and internet addiction among chemistry majors in college

To explore the mechanism by which physical exercise influences internet addiction among chemistry majors and to analyze the chain mediating effects of perceived stress and loneliness. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 900 Chinese chemistry majors using the physical exercise rating scale, internet addiction scale, stress perception scale, and loneliness scale. The direct effect of physical exercise on internet addiction among chemistry majors was - 0.171. The effect sizes for perceived stress and loneliness, mediating between physical exercise and internet addiction, were - 0.010 and - 0.001, respectively. The chain mediating effect of perceived stress and loneliness was significant, with an effect size of - 0.002. (1) Physical exercise significantly negatively predicted perceived stress, loneliness, and internet addiction; (2) Both the direct and indirect effects of physical exercise on internet addiction among chemistry majors were significant. (3) Physical exercise significantly predicted internet addiction through the independent mediating effects of perceived stress and loneliness, and also significantly predicted internet addiction through the chain mediating effects of perceived stress and loneliness.