Perceived social support and Chinese university students’ intentions to participate in non-traditional sports: a moderated chain mediation model

TL;DR

This study explores how social support affects Chinese university students' interest in non-traditional sports, with psychological resilience and self-efficacy playing key roles.

Contribution

The study introduces a moderated chain mediation model linking social support to sports participation through resilience and self-efficacy, moderated by collectivistic orientation.

Findings

Perceived social support positively influences participation intention in non-traditional sports.

Psychological resilience and self-efficacy partially mediate the relationship between social support and participation.

Collectivistic orientation strengthens the effect of social support on psychological resilience.

Abstract

This study investigates how perceived social support influences Chinese university students’ willingness to participate in non-traditional sports, focusing on the chain mediating roles of psychological resilience and self-efficacy, and the moderating effect of Collectivistic orientation.

An online survey collected 540 valid responses from Chinese university students. The survey measured perceived social support from family, friends, and significant others; psychological resilience; self-efficacy; and participation intention in non-traditional sports. Main effects and mediation effects were tested using SPSS Process model 6, while moderation effects were examined using Process model 83.

This study revealed that perceived social support positively influences Chinese students’ participation intention in non-traditional sports. Both psychological resilience and self-efficacy partially mediate this relationship, with evidence supporting a sequential mediation pathway. Moreover, the positive effect of perceived social support on psychological resilience is significantly stronger among individuals with a collectivistic orientation, confirming the moderating role.

This study demonstrates that perceived social support significantly enhances participation intention in non-traditional sports among Chinese university students. The chain mediating roles of psychological resilience and self-efficacy, coupled with the moderating influence of cultural orientation, provide valuable insights for promoting non-traditional sports by addressing both psychological and cultural factors.

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