Impact mechanism of extracurricular physical exercise on prosocial behavior among adolescents and its gender differences

Based on the theory of planned behavior and self-determination theory, this study explored the associations between extracurricular physical exercise and prosocial behavior among adolescents and the underlying mechanisms and gender differences using a cross-sectional survey. Using data from the Chinese Adolescent Health Theme Database of 13,340 adolescents (average age = 14.3 ± 1.93 years; 6,965 boys, 14.3 ± 1.92 years; 6,375 girls, 14.3 ± 1.93 years), the study examined whether self-efficacy and autonomous motivation mediated the relationship between extracurricular physical exercise and prosocial behavior, and conducted a comparative analysis between genders. Extracurricular physical exercise was positively associated with prosocial behavior (β = 0.135, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between extracurricular physical exercise and prosocial behavior (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.064, 0.092). Autonomous motivation also partially mediated this relationship (95% CI: 0.063, 0.079). Extracurricular physical exercise was linked to adolescents’ prosocial behavior indirectly through a chain mediation of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation (95% CI: 0.018, 0.026). Extracurricular physical exercise is not only directly associated with adolescents’ prosocial behavior but shows associations with it through the mediating effects of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation, as well as through their chain mediation. The association between extracurricular physical exercise and prosocial behavior appears to operate mainly through autonomous motivation in boys, and through self-efficacy in girls.