The relationship between social support and college students’ physical activity participation in China: the mediating effect of self-efficacy

Abstract

Background: With the increasing health awareness among Chinese college students, the relationship between social support, self-efficacy, and participation in physical activities has become a focal point of research. Particularly in the context of gender differences, exploring how these factors influence college students’ exercise behaviors is significant. Objective: This study aims to examine how social support influences college students’ self-efficacy and their participation in physical activities, and whether self-efficacy mediates this relationship. It should be noted that in the context of this study, college students are considered late adolescents or emerging adults, as defined in developmental psychology. Methods: A survey was conducted among 489 college students from universities in Henan Province, China. The survey included the Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ), the Social Support Scale, and the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES). Exploratory factor analysis, linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to examine the relationship between social support and college students’ participation in physical activities. Results: The regression effects of social support on college students’ participation in physical activities (F = 47.898) and self-efficacy (F = 224.247) were significant (p < 0.01). Self-efficacy also significantly predicted participation in physical activities (F = 136.706, p < 0.01). Among female students, both the effect of social support (B = 0.177, t = 2.332*) and self-efficacy (B = 0.307, t = 5.810**) on participation in physical activities were significant. The mediating effect of self-efficacy accounted for 59.6% of the total effect, while the direct effect accounted for 40.4%. Conclusion: To promote female college students’ participation in physical activities, particular attention should be paid to the critical role of self-efficacy. At the same time, it is also important not to overlook the competitive sports preferred by male students, which require stronger self-efficacy to cope with competitive pressures and social expectations.