Physical literacy and health-related quality of life: the serial mediating role of resilience and positive mental health

Abstract Physical literacy (PL) is recognized as a multidimensional construct that supports physical activity and health. Beyond physical competence, PL includes motivation, confidence, knowledge, and understanding. However, the role of positive psychological resources in explaining the relationship between physical literacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among university students has received limited empirical attention. This study examined whether resilience and positive mental health (PMH) mediate the relationship between PL and physical and mental components of HRQoL. In this cross-sectional study,159 undergraduate and graduate students from a single university in Louisiana, US completed the perceived physical literacy instrument, adult resilience measure-revised, positive mental health scale, and short form 12 health survey online. PROCESS Model 6 was utilized to analyze the mediation model. Age and sex were added as covariates. PL is positively associated with resilience, PMH, and both physical and mental HRQoL. PMH significantly mediated the relationship between PL and mental HRQoL, and a significant serial indirect association through resilience and PMH was identified (B = 0.227, 95% bootstrap CI [0.109, 0.403]). In contrast, no significant indirect effects were observed for physical HRQoL. The final model explained 35.1% of the variance in mental HRQoL. These findings suggest that physical literacy is associated with mental HRQoL through a psychosocial pathway in which resilience supports positive mental health. Findings from this study can be utilized to inform policy that seeks to identify modifiable psychological and behavioral determinants of HRQoL and meaningfully enhance the university health promotion program to support health outcomes of students in higher education.