# Physical activity and social adaptation in high school students: the chain mediating roles of interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience

## TL;DR

This study explores how physical activity helps high school students adapt socially through improved relationships and resilience.

## Contribution

The study identifies interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience as chain mediators between physical activity and social adaptation in high school students.

## Key findings

- Physical activity is correlated with social adaptation and both mediators.
- Interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience independently mediate the relationship between physical activity and social adaptation.
- Physical activity is linked to social adaptation via the chain mediation of interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience.

## Abstract

This study was designed to test the relationship between physical activity and social adaptation among high school students, as well as the mediating effects of interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience in this association.

High school students (N = 1,093) in Henan Province, China, completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short From (IPAQ-S), the Interpersonal Relationship Comprehensive Diagnostic Scale, the Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Social Adaptive Capacity Diagnostic Scale in their classrooms. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and the Process plugin, and data visualization was carried out using RStudio.

(1) Physical activity was correlated with social adaptation, as well as with both mediators. (2) Interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience independently mediated the relationship between physical activity and social adaptation. Furthermore, physical activity was associated with social adaptation through the chain mediation effects of interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience.

The results highlight interpersonal relationships and psychological resilience as mechanisms of the association between high schoolers’ physical activity and social adaptation. These findings provide a practical basis for developing interventions aimed at improving high school students’ social adaptation abilities.