Kayani, Sumaira ORCID: 0000-0001-9179-0412, Kiyani, Tayyaba ORCID: 0009-0007-4934-6511, Kayani, Saima, Morris, Tony ORCID: 0000-0002-2883-7270, Biasutti, Michele ORCID: 0000-0002-7784-4258 and Wang, Jin (2021) Physical activity and anxiety of Chinese university students: Mediation of self-system. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (9). p. 4468. ISSN 1661-7827

Abstract

The present study examined the role of self-enhancement and self-criticism in the relationship between physical activity and anxiety. A total of 305 students from Chinese universities, ranging in age from 18 to 36, completed a questionnaire package comprising a physical activity questionnaire, a self-enhancement strategies scale, a level of self-criticism scale, and a short form of state and trait anxiety scale. Findings highlighted that physical activity had a significant negative correlation with anxiety (r = −0.31, p < 0.01), a significant positive association with self-enhancement (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), and a significant negative relationship with self-criticism (r = −0.14, p < 0.05). It was also found that anxiety was significantly predicted by self-enhancement (−0.21, p < 0.01) and self-criticism (0.44, p < 0.01). Moreover, the mediation model supports the mediation of self-enhancement and self-criticism between physical activity and anxiety in university students. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at promoting physical activity and enhancing the self-system should be worthy strategies for reducing students’ anxiety.

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