Effects of physical exercise on the psychological resilience of college students: chain mediation effects of social support and self-control

To investigate the statistical associations through which physical exercise is linked to the psychological resilience of college students, this study examined the parallel and chain mediating roles of social support and self-control. Using a convenience sampling method, undergraduate students from nine Chinese universities were recruited as participants. The Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were administered. A total of 1,006 valid questionnaires were collected. 1) Regression analysis revealed that physical exercise showed a positive association with psychological resilience. 2) Social support and self-control mediated the association between physical exercise and psychological resilience. This mediation comprised three distinct pathways: the parallel mediating effects of both social support and self-control, as well as their chain mediating effect. Physical exercise is not only directly associated with higher levels of psychological resilience but also shows an indirect association with it through its links to social support and self-control. The findings reveal a statistical pathway from physical activity to social resources and then to self-regulation, providing a basis for informing strategies to promote college students’ psychological resilience through integrated physical exercise interventions.