Physical activity and social adaptation: A chain mediating model test

Our purpose was to explore the relationship between the physical activity and social adaptation of junior high school students, as well as the mediating role of socioemotional competence and self-esteem. We surveyed 980 junior high school students using four scales: the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Social Adaptability Diagnostic Scale, the Social-Emotional Ability Scale, and the Self-Esteem Scale. Results showed that physical activity had a significant positive correlation with social adaptation. Further, socioemotional competence and self-esteem had both independent mediating and chain mediating roles in the relationship between physical activity and social adaptation. The results have revealed the mechanism of the relationship between physical activity and social adaptation and provide a preliminary basis for study of the causal relationships between these variables. Our results also provide a theoretical basis for intervention and promotion of social adaptation.