The impact of physical exercise on the flourishing level of vocational college students: an analysis based on random forest regression algorithm and moderated mediation model

This study examined the associations among physical exercise, sensory processing sensitivity, depression-happiness, relational energy, and flourishing in vocational college students, with a focus on the serial mediating roles of sensory processing sensitivity and depression-happiness and the moderating role of relational energy. Using a multistage sampling design, 11,388 vocational college students from mainland China were surveyed. Physical exercise did not show a significant direct positive association with flourishing, but did so indirectly through sensory processing sensitivity and depression-happiness. Relational energy significantly moderated the association between depression, happiness, and flourishing. After controlling for gender, grade, and BMI, physical exercise showed a significant negative direct association with flourishing. These findings suggest that the benefits of physical exercise for flourishing operate primarily through personality, emotional, and interpersonal pathways.