From gym to joy: The serial mediation of motor competence and health literacy in Chinese university students’ exercise-life satisfaction pathway

TL;DR

This study shows that regular exercise improves life satisfaction in Chinese university students, partly through better motor skills and health knowledge.

Contribution

The study identifies serial mediation pathways of motor competence and health literacy in the exercise-life satisfaction relationship.

Findings

Exercise adherence directly and positively predicts life satisfaction in university students.

Health literacy mediates 26.25% of the effect of exercise adherence on life satisfaction.

Motor-skill competence and health literacy sequentially mediate a small portion of the effect.

Abstract

To investigate the impact of exercise adherence on life satisfaction among Chinese university students and to explore the mediating roles of motor-skill competence and health literacy. The ultimate goals are to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical activity and well-being, and to inform the development of targeted interventions that promote holistic student development.

A total of 15,031 valid responses were extracted from a national university-student survey database. All variables were assessed with standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS 27.0. Promoting the physical and mental well-being and holistic development of students has become a policy priority that commands national attention, public concern, and sustained governmental focus, and the PROCESS macro v4.0.

Exercise adherence, life satisfaction, motor-skill competence, and health literacy were positively intercorrelated. Exercise adherence significantly and positively predicted university students’ life satisfaction. The indirect effect along Path 1—exercise adherence → motor-skill competence → life satisfaction—was 0.003, accounting for 1.1% of the total effect. The indirect effect along Path 2—exercise adherence → health literacy → life satisfaction—was 0.067, accounting for 26.25% of the total effect. The indirect effect along Path 3—exercise adherence → motor-skill competence → health literacy → life satisfaction—was 0.001, accounting for 0.28% of the total effect.

The study findings reveal that exercise adherence has a positive direct effect on university students’ life satisfaction and also exerts an indirect effect through the sequential mediation of motor-skill competence and health literacy. These results provide empirical evidence of the complex interplay between physical activity, skill development, and mental health.

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