Physical Activity and Anxiety of Chinese University Students: Mediation of Self-System

Sumaira Kayani, Tayyaba Kiyani, Saima Kayani, Tony Morris, Michele Biasutti and Jin Wang
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Sumaira Kayani: Department of Psychology, College of Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321001, China
Tayyaba Kiyani: Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
Saima Kayani: Department of Education, Women University Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 12500, Pakistan
Tony Morris: Institute of Health and Sport, Victoria University, Ballarat Rd, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia
Michele Biasutti: Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35139 Padova, Italy
Jin Wang: Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-13

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.

Keywords: physical activity; students’ anxiety; self-concepts; the mediating role (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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