The influence of social physical exercise on the health of middle-aged and older adults: a mediating model of health behavior change mechanisms moderated by age

Objective: To study and discuss the impact of physical exercise on the health status of middle-aged and older adults in the Chinese social environment, with a focus on the mediating role of the health behavior change mechanism and the moderating effect of age. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional design. Established or adapted scales were used to evaluate physical exercise participation, mechanisms of health behavior change, age, and health status. A survey was administered to 473 members of registered sports social organizations in Chengdu, Meishan, Leshan, Nanchong, and Guang'an in Sichuan Province, China. SPSS 27.0 and Amos 21.0 were used to construct a structural equation model to test the hypothesized mediating and moderating effects. Results: Participation in physical exercise in social groups has a significant direct effect on health status. The indirect effect through the health behavior change mechanism is also statistically significant, supporting the mediation hypothesis. Crucially, these effects are moderated by age, being more pronounced in the older population, reflecting the unique health vulnerability of this group. Control variables (education level, gender, and presence of chronic diseases) do not have a significant impact on the model path. Conclusion: The health benefits of participating in social group-based physical exercise are primarily driven by the mechanism of individual health behavior change and weaken with age. This study's findings provide a theoretical and empirical basis for developing age-specific, theory-driven physical exercise intervention measures within social organizations.