The impact of sports participation on the psychological state of the Chinese population from the perspective of sports resources

Objective Against the backdrop of the Chinese people’s growing demand for health, it is of great significance to explore the impact of sports participation on different psychological states among the population, as well as the specific mechanisms and theoretical adaptations under varying conditions of sports resources—such as the sports environment, facilities, and safety. Such an investigation not only contributes to the widespread promotion of public participation in sports but also provides targeted theoretical guidance for improving psychological well-being. Method Using data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) published in 2023, a linear regression model was constructed. Results Sports participation exerts a comprehensive positive effect on the psychological well-being of the Chinese population. Robustness tests using instrumental variable methods confirm that the impact of sports participation on psychological well-being is free from endogeneity issues and exhibits strong robustness. The influence of sports participation on psychological well-being varies significantly depending on sports resource conditions: ① Under favorable sports environment conditions, it exerts a comprehensive positive effect; under poor sports environment conditions, it has no effect on depression and despondency. ② In well-equipped facilities, it more effectively promotes calmness and vitality, while in under-equipped facilities, it has no effect on depression/despondency or calmness. ③ Under low-safety conditions, it has a comprehensive positive effect, while under high-safety conditions, it has no effect on depression/despondency. Conclusion Sports participation exerts a robust, positive influence on overall mental well-being and vitality at the macro level. However, its effects manifest in complex interrelationships under specific sports resource conditions. Recommendations: Comprehensively enhance the role of sports participation in improving public mental health; Implement intelligent strategies for sports resource development to amplify the positive impact of sports participation on psychological well-being.