Physical Activity Influences Negative Emotion Among College Students in China: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Psychological Resilience

Abstract

Background/objective: Negative emotion, such as anxiety and depression, significantly impacts college students’ academic performance, social relationships, and overall well-being. Given that, this study aims to explore the effect of physical activity on alleviating negative emotion among Chinese college students and to examine the mediating and moderating mechanisms of psychological resilience including individual power and supportive power. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 596 college students from 10 universities in Guangdong Province (Mage = 20.32, SD = 1.47). Data were collected using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale (APRS), and Depression–Anxiety–Stress Scale (DASS-21). Descriptive and correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and PROCESS macro models were used to test the mediating and moderating effects. Results: (1) Physical activity (β = −0.312, p < 0.001) and supportive power (β = −0.391, p < 0.001) both significantly negatively predicted negative emotion; (2) Individual power played a partial mediating role between physical activity and negative emotion (indirect effect accounted for 31.4%, 95% CI [−0.395, −0.242]); (3) Supportive power moderated the relationship between physical activity and negative emotion (interaction effect β = 0.089, p < 0.01), with a stronger effect of physical exercise on reducing negative emotion under low supportive conditions (b = −0.401 vs. b = −0.224). Conclusions: Physical activity not only directly affects negative emotion but also indirectly influences negative emotion by enhancing psychological resilience (individual power), and supportive power could moderate this effect through a resource substitution mechanism. The present study provides a theoretical basis for designing targeted mental health interventions and emphasizes the synergistic effect of integrating physical activity and social support on college students’ mental health.