The theoretical model and practical pattern of flow experience on college students’ willingness to adhere to physical exercise

This study aims to investigate the impact of “flow experience” on college students’ willingness to adhere to physical exercise, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of “perceived value” and “satisfaction”. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 435 college students using convenience sampling. The collected data was analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), aiming to test the proposed hypotheses and mediating effects. Flow experience demonstrated a significant positive effect on the willingness to adhere to physical exercise (β = 0.325, p < 0.001). Perceived value (β = 0.287, p < 0.001) and satisfaction (β = 0.263, p < 0.001) also exhibited significant positive effects. Furthermore, perceived value and satisfaction were found to serve as partial mediators in the relationship between “flow experience” and behavioral willingness, with no statistically significant difference in the indirect effects between these two factors. Meeting the inner needs of college students, particularly by enhancing their perceived value and satisfaction during exercise, represents an effective approach to fostering their willingness to adhere to physical exercise. These findings suggest that interventions designed to improve the immersive quality of exercise could be a viable strategy for promoting sustained participation.